The city of Ironton could save 50 percent on landfills fees but this would require sending its trash — and its money— out of Ohio.

Mayor Rich Blankenship told city council members Thursday evening he had opened bids for landfill services and the lowest bid came from River Cities Landfill in rural Boyd County, Ky. River Cities will take the city’s refuse at a cost of $17.75 a ton. Rumpke Recycling, which currently charges $32 a ton, submitted a bid of $32 a ton for 2012 and $33 a ton for 2013.

“I’d like to do business in Ohio but this is getting out of hand,” Blankenship said. “It might take a little longer to get there and back, but with paying $15 less per ton, the variance in the price, it’s worth taking a look.”

Blankenship said even factoring in fuel costs for the trucks, the $17.75 a ton is still worth considering.

City Street Superintendent Mike Pemberton, who also supervises trash collection, said the city will have to get a Kentucky solid waste license which is $10 a year.

Blankenship said the only other entity that submitted a bid was Green Valley Landfill, also in Boyd County, Ky.

No action was taken on this matter.

Blankenship also told council he has had meetings recently with Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless and discussions about handing over city police dispatching to the sheriff’s office are “moving forward at a rapid pace.”

Blankenship said Lawless has offered basic dispatching, much like what is provided to Coal Grove at no cost to the city.

Council member Aaron Bollinger said he had also met with Lawless about police dispatching. He said the city would likely have to pay a Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) fee of $600 a year. LEADS is a computerized information network for police agencies.

City council met in executive session to discuss contract negotiations with the city’s three unions that represent public works employees, firefighters and police officers and to discuss the sale of real estate.