The Trenton City Council met in regular session on Monday night, with an update on the milling work that began earlier in the day. That work, on Trenton’s streets, is anticipated to be completed on Tuesday, according to Trenton Street Supervisor Martin Schieb. Originally, the work was planned for Monday through Wednesday. However, the contractor was able to advance ahead of schedule. Tuesday’s work is now scheduled on Main Street (between 9th and 10th) and East 10th Court (between Custer and Tinsman). Milling originally planned for Wednesday is expected to now be done on Tuesday. Specifically, this work involves Oklahoma Avenue (between 17th and 28th), East 17th Street (between Lincoln and Oklahoma), and Park Lane (between Eastview Drive and St. Joseph Street).
In other news, sales from Trenton’s asphalt plant are being credited for helping Trenton’s city budget for the fiscal year ending on Saturday. However, Trenton has lost several potential asphalt sales by not being able to meet the demand. The City Council has been presented information about silo’s that could store asphalt for up to five days, which would in turn have supplies available for potential customers. The silo proposal will be studied further by Trenton City Council’s Finance Committee. City Administrator Kerry Sampson, in offering his opinion on the proposal, said if the silos “could be paid off in 3 to 5 years, it would ‘make sense'”.
The City Council also reviewed its policy of allowing the Trenton Street Department’s asphalt paver to be used for work on items other than Trenton streets, including in other area cities. This has been seen as a “means to make money” to help pay for the paver, which cost nearly $145,000. A Trenton City employee is required to operate the machine. In 2015, the paver was used on two Lawson streets and at S.M. Rissler Elementary School in Trenton. It will be used again this year in the Trenton R-9 School District.
In action items, bids will be sought for repairs to the airport runway. This includes a thermoplastic surface treatment, crack repairs, and marking. An estimated cost of approximately $400,000 was mentioned, with 90 percent of the cost covered by federal funding. The City of Trenton would provide the remaining ten percent. The treatment is anticpated to last between 8 and 15 years.
The Trenton Council has voted to apply for associate membership in the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission. The city was encouraged by the Commission’s General Manager, Brad Scott, to seek the associate membership. There is no financial obligation to the city, nor time commitment or contractual obligation.
Trenton Municipal Utilities Comptroller Rosetta Marsh has been approve to be an alternate member representative to the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission. TMU Director Chad Davis is currently Trenton’s primary representative to the commission. Bids for scrap metal being sold by TMU and the Trenton Street Department were approved. High bidders are Kenneth Ricketts of Trenton, Max Fordyce of Ridgeway, John Pettit of Gallatin, and Clint Cranmore of Marquette, Nebraska.
A “Key to the City” was presented to Virgil and Suzanne Waldon, recognizing them as recipients of the “Tidy Up Award”. They have been picking up trash along Iowa Boulevard for at least five years.
Additional volunteers are being sought to work Saturday morning’s from 9 to noon at the recycling collection site at the former “Maggie’s Mess” location. The brush dump, located at the Trenton Street Department, will be open on Saturday mornings from 9 to noon.
Trenton Police Chief Tommy Wright is seeking additional volunteers to pick up trash along city streets. Over 100 pounds of trash have been picked up thus far. Financial partners are also being sought. Those willing to help may contact Chief Wright.
The contractor for demolition work at numerous locations across Trenton will have needed equipment in the city by the end of the week. Work has been delayed after contractor Derrick Fee of Hamilton, (Red Rock) lost a semi-trailer in a Chillicothe fire last month. The City of Trenton currently has a program where it will pay a portion of the costs to demolish selected privately-owned properties. It also was mentioned that people who wish to pay for all the demolition costs like can do so at a discounted charge. This is done by having the work done while the contractor is in Trenton doing the city organized projects.
It was mentioned that a Chinook helicopter was at the Trenton Airport on Monday, taking part in maneuvers.
The Trenton City Council heard the annual report from City Attorney Tara Walker, specifically concerning recommendation to avoid liabilities and to meet requirements of Missouri’s Open Meetings law. The presentation is a requirement from the City of Trenton’s insurance carrier.
A closed session was held on Monday night regarding real estate. The Building and Nuisance Board met prior to the City Council meeting and declared nuisances at 843 West 14th Court, 802 East 24th Street, 1109 East 12th Street, 1314 Norton, 1922 Oak, and 1105 Wiggins. The property owner at 843 West 14th Court wants the structure put on the city’s demolition list. Work is being done at 802 East 24th Street. The board has had dealings with 1922 and 2211 Oak Street in the recent past, but had to start the nuisance process over again because both locales have had a change in ownership. Some improvement work is said to have been done at 1922 Oak. Public hearings were held regarding 402 West 12th Street, 1109 Merrill, 1110 Rural, and 1323 Merrill. “Findings of Facts” will be filed for those locations. The property at 402 West 12th is in the process of being sold. Although some improvements have been done to the yard at that location, it is unknown whether the structure will be improved or torn down. Some work has been done to the 1109 Merrill property. A “certificate of a dangerous building” will be filed at 507 Main Street, with a requirement that the structure be demolished due to its condition. The same certificate will be issued for 1904 Lulu Street. The owner at that location wants to have the building put on the city’s demolition list.
Police Chief Tommy Wright reports that his department has “dealt with 45 nuisance violation reports this year, with 31 involving trash and debris, 11 vehicles, two grass and weed, and one in the category of public health/building”. Of those, 24 were abated, 10 citations given, and 11 are pending re-inspection or are in-progress.
The Building and Nuisance Board voted to send two requests from Chief Wright to the Administrative Committee. Both involve the city ordinance regarding nuisances. One request will give the judge the option of requiring community service for people convicted of a crime. Currently, only a fine is allowed. The other request would clarify the description of a nuisance, particularly the portion dealing with the stacking of lumber.
Monday represented the final City Council meeting for City Administrator Kerry Sampson, will is retiring on Friday. Sampson told the council that he “has enjoyed his employment with the city and appreciates the opportunity”. Friday’s retirement will end Sampson’s nearly 20 year employment with the City of Trenton. He began working there in November 1996 as Assistant Administrator for Development. He was promoted to City Administrator in 2000. The city will hold a public reception for Sampson on Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 3 o’clock at Trenton City Hall.
