SLIPPERY ROCK — Borough council is working to get its bulk trash date changed back to May.

Council President Dave Miller and Councilwoman Christy Tichy will meet with Jerry Bowser, Tri-County Industries general manager, this month to talk about bulk trash pickup taking place May 9 and 16.

Council likely will vote on the issue in February.

The initial idea was for the date to be changed to May 16. However, Slippery Rock University’s graduation is May 10, and SRU students who rent apartments are among the largest users of bulk pickup.

Council Vice President Ron Steele said that he would rather see the pickup date changed to May 9, since pickup use traditionally happened before graduation.

He also suggested that there could be the second date the following week to get the remaining trash, which was an idea Tichy liked.

“That would be ideal, if we could have two,” Tichy said.

Borough council in 2012 voted on a three-year garbage contract with Tri-County Industries that included changing one of the days of bulk trash pickup from May, the same week as SRU’s graduation, to March.

Since May 2013, several residents and landlords have urged council to return to the later date.

Council in July formed a solid waste committee, which was made up of one council member, residents, landlords, business owners and SRU representatives, to discuss the bulk trash issue as well as other trash- related issues.

Tri-County told council that it would cost $1.50 per customer per month to have the date changed back.

The committee recommended that the borough move the bulk trash date to after SRU’s spring graduation and that it wanted the $1.50 per customer per month cost to move it to come out of the $3 borough service fee on every trash bill.

Steele said if the date is changed, borough council should pay the extra fee. He said it is not the residents’ fault that the date was changed, and that council “messed up” by changing the date.

Council members Bob Bowser, Itzi Meztli and Tichy agreed with Steele.

Councilwoman Regina Greenwald said she would question the validity of Tri-County’s ability to charge extra for changing the date, which Miller agreed with.

Resident Tom Cooper interjected, saying Tri-County should not charge more.

Council also decided the fall bulk trash date likely should be Aug. 29, shortly after SRU’s classes begin.

Before the main discussion, Meztli noted that Miller said at the Jan. 6 meeting that the date would change to May 16.

Meztli, who was absent from that meeting, said he had concerns about such a decision taking place behind closed doors, and said that there had to be a vote for the date to change.

Bowser said that Meztli was accusing Miller of wrongdoing.

“Can you prove it?” Bowser asked.

Meztli asked Tichy, who noted that the trash committee, in its public report to council, recommended that Miller talk to Tri-County about changing the date.

“It wasn’t decided behind the scenes,” Tichy said.

Miller noted that he said the plan was for the date to move to May.

“It’s not a done deal,” Miller said.

Resident Chuck Brochetti said the issue should have been solved several months ago, and the longer it takes, the more rumors will circulate.

“Quit dragging your feet. Get this behind you,” Brochetti said.