BRIDGEPORT — The Bridgeport Financial Planning and Supervision Commission approved the village’s amended recovery plan Friday morning, including privatizing the village’s garbage services.

Mayor Norma Teasdale said the commission met a bit later than expected Friday due to some of those in attendance being stuck in traffic on Interstate 70 in St. Clairsville after a wreck caused a spill on the roadway.

During the meeting, commission members unanimously approved the revised Financial Recovery Plan that Village Council approved earlier this week. The commission must approve all financial decisions pertaining to the village recovery plan prior to them being finalized.

The revised plan reflects changes in the village’s income including the loss of the Brookside police coverage contract, privatizing its garbage collection and more accurate water rate data since the village is no longer a producer. With the plan in place, the village remains on track to eliminate its debt in both the general fund and street fund by 2025.

Included in the amended plan is the village moving from providing its own garbage services to a private garbage collector. The commission approved the hiring of Jochum Refuse of Wheeling, which will now provide the garbage services to the village for the same amount — $15 per household per month, and an average of $86 for dumpsters depending on the size. The village will continue to administer the billing.

Teasdale said the change in services will begin Oct. 4. The village will continue to provide pickup until then.

“There won’t be any change in cost, and it will also be the same pickup schedule,” she added.

She said the garbage pickup will remain the same with the dates varying depending on the area of the village. For instance, Aetnaville’s garbage day is on Mondays, while Kirkwood Heights’ day is on Fridays and Main Street is on Tuesdays. If Jochum does decide to alter the pickup days in the future, notices will be sent out to all residents prior to the change.

The village opted to bid out its garbage services contract due to a lack of personnel to perform the work. Financial Supervisor Justin Sloan previously said that outsourcing collections may save the village money in the long run, as it has struggled to retain a driver with a commercial license this past year. He said that hiring substitutes to fill in was expensive for the village.