The Trenton Park Board named a committee to help pass the one-half cent sales tax issue that will be on the November ballot, discussed the soccer program and elected officers during a meeting Wednesday night.
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The Trenton Park Board named a committee to help pass the one-half cent sales tax issue that will be on the November ballot, discussed the soccer program and elected officers during a meeting Wednesday night.
The committee will be comprised of Steve Perry, Paul Jackson, Ronda Lickteig, Cathy McKay, Laura Lymer, C.S. Endecott, David Swank, Johne Chapman and Russell Joiner. In addition, members of the park board will also meet with the committee, which will be charged with packaging the board’s long-range plans and informing the public about the issue. The tax would provide three-eights of a cent for park improvements and one-eighth of a cent for stormwater improvements. As part of the issue, the current property tax for parks would be eliminated. Other interested persons who would like to serve on the committee may contact Board President Ben Moore or Assistant City Administrator Kerry Sampson.
Robert Rosenbaum met with the board to express his concern about the growing number of youth athletic programs in the city and the possible lack of practice and playing space for all of the teams in the future. In particular, Rosenbaum said he is concerned about future conflicts with the soccer program and little league football and summer ball programs. While he said there have been no conflicts so far and he is not opposed to soccer, he just wants to be sure that a plan is in place to avoid scheduling problems in the future. When the new middle school is constructed, he said, there will be less room for the little league football teams to practice on the east side of the high school, making it necessary for more practice space to be found.
Board members said they feel Rosenbaum’s concerns are legitimate and there are plans to meet with representatives of all groups involved to have a schedule worked out prior to the spring soccer and TBA seasons. Moore said he feels there is “room for everyone” in the park system.
In a later discussion, Park Superintendent Kevin Ireland noted that soccer league officials are lining their own fields and there has been no obligation for park employees to prepare for practices or games. Games are being played on the FFA field west of the high school on Normal Street, on the outfield of Griffin Field and north of the Rock Barn. The Griffin outfield and Rock Barn locations are for games only and no practices are held at those sites. The old Griffin Field had been considered for use as a soccer field, but the lines used by the THS band for practice conflicted with the lines needed for soccer.
A discussion was held concerning a letter to the editor in a recent edition of the Republican-Times in which Richard and Donna Ashenfelter of rural Trenton questioned why a time cannot be set aside to allow senior citizen swimming at the municipal swimming pool.
Steve Muff, who serves on the pool committee, said the reason the pool hours have been cut back has been finances. Muff presented a 10-year breakdown on pool revenues and expenses, which show an overall deficit of $48,843. From the 1989-90 season to the 1995-1996 season, expenditures exceeded revenues by a total of $52,060, including one year when the loss was $13,361. In the past three seasons, revenues have exceeded expenses by a total of $3,217.
Muff said the board felt hours needed to be cut back in order to at least break even on the pool. In addition, it was pointed out that four lifeguards and a manager must be on duty when the pool is open and swimming after dark is prohibited by insurance regulations. The cost of keeping the pool open for only a few swimmers has been prohibitive. Moore said he had talked with Mrs.Ashenfelter and asked her to find out approximately how many senior citizens would be interested in a special senior swim time and the issue could be discussed again at a later time. It was noted that if the sales tax issue passes, it would provide more funding to operate the pool.
In other business, the board:
• adopted the same purchasing policy as the city.
• heard a report on Ireland’s activities over the past month, including how the current drought has affected trees and grass in the parks.
• heard a report on the striping of the Eastside Park parking lot, which cost $300; the asphalting between the fence and C.F. Russell Stadium, which cost $1,800; and four signs that say “Community Pride – Catch It!”, which cost $22 each. Several groups and individuals were recognized for having made donations to the projects. Those mentioned were the Trenton Quarterback Club, Premium Standard Farms, Todd and Tammy Crase, Marvin and Judy Sharp and the Hoover Foundation.
• discussed grants that are pending and ways the city can work to improve its chances in being funded, including the need for the development of a comprehensive long-range plan.
• set a meeting for 7 p.m., Sept. 21 at the Trenton R-9 District Office that will include representatives of the park board, school district, North Central Missouri Fair Board, Missouri Day Committee and the city. The meeting would focus on long-range plans for the Eastside Park area.
• elected officers for the year, which include the re-election of Moore as president and Susie Ryan as vice president. Marti Williams was elected secretary. Moore will appoint committees at a later time.
The next regular park board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 6.