The Trenton City Council is asking for more information from the Trenton Park Board before it considers placing a sales tax issue on the April election ballot to raise money for operation of the park system.
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The Trenton City Council is asking for more information from the Trenton Park Board before it considers placing a sales tax issue on the April election ballot to raise money for operation of the park system.
During a meeting Monday night, council members requested a specific plan on how the money would be used should such a tax be approved by voters. Several council members ask that the plan detail how the monies would be spent over a five- to 10-year period, including operation costs of new items that might be built with the additional funding.
Steve Muff, president of the park board, asked that the city consider putting an issue on the April ballot which would include rolling back the current ad valorem tax now paid by property owners to operate the parks by 50 percent while asking for approval of a one-half percent sales tax. Based on current tax figures provided by the city, this would amount to around $400,000 being available for park operations.
Muff discussed a master plan the park board had done in 2001, which listed several projects the board would like to see done within the next five to 10 years. The master plan was based on information from the board as well as from a survey of citizens, which asked them to prioritize possible projects.
Number one on the list was an aquatic center, which would replace the current swimming pool at Moberly Park, which was built in the 1960s. Estimated cost for that project is listed at just over $2 million. A ballfield and soccer complex, with parking to accommodate 200 vehicles, was second on the list at a cost of around $1.6 million. Other projects on the list included renovation and equipment in Van Meter, Eastside and Moberly parks, which was estimated at a cost of nearly $1 million.
While council members seemed appreciative of the master plan, most indicated that a more specific plan would be needed to present to voters, showing citizens how the money would be spent each year. Councilperson Jackie Soptic noted that she would like to see a plan that included yearly operation figures as well as maintenance costs, adding that she didn?t want to see the park board add a lot of new items and not be able to afford to maintain them. Other council members voiced the same sentiment regarding specific costs, with Mayor Tim Whitaker stating he didn?t want to see the park board tax end up like that of the Missouri Department of Transpor-tation, which didn?t do what it said it would do with the tax monies.
?And they wound up with no credibility,? he said.
Councilman Kenneth Ewing said he could not support a park tax at this time, noting that the issue of a tax for a new law enforcement center has yet to be resolved. He cited the near defeat of the issue in the November election and wondered if a park tax would affect both issues negatively.
There was also some discussion about the possibility of eliminating the entire ad valorem tax as part of the tax issues, which Muff indicated was a possibility. That is also expected to be considered by the board before it comes back to the council.
The deadline to place the issue on the April ballot is Jan. 25. The council will not have a second meeting in December and its next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 13.
The council heard information from Jon Smith, a co-owner of Mid America Fire Apparatus, concerning a fire truck the city owns which is now being repaired by the company. Smith said while his company has yet to begin work on the pump of the 1976 International, the truck is basically obsolete and that the city should consider replacing it rather than spend a lot of money on repairs. He noted that he has been working with the Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District on the purchase of a truck to replace one that is no longer operational and that he could work with both entities in getting trucks for a fairly reasonable price.
Smith talked about a new truck and a late model used vehicle, both of which he said would meet ISO standards and would provide the city with additional pumping capacity. This would allow the city to eliminate another one of its older trucks, thus cutting down on the costs for maintenance and operation. Smith estimated the cost for a new truck with all the equipment needed at around $175,000 while a used late model vehicle would cost in the $80,000 range.
In other business, the council:
? approved an ordinance setting the filing date for the April 8 election from Dec. 24 to Jan. 21. The four-year term of Mayor Tim Whitaker as well as the two-year terms of first ward councilperson Jackie Soptic, second ward councilman Gary Black, third ward councilman Don Peyton and fourth ward councilman Larry Crawford expire. Persons wanting to file for the election can do so at city hall during regular business hours.
? approved an ordinance authorizing the signing of documents necessary to apply for a Brownfield Grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The grant would be used to pay for an environmental assessment of properties owned by Sharon Ferris at Main and 12th streets and Ron Peterie at Mable and 12th streets and would also provide funding to remove fuel tanks located on those properties.
? approved a bid from Allstate Abatement, Inc. of Liberty to provide asbestos abatement services for the city?s housing rehabilitation project. Four houses are to be done in the initial phase of the project.
Following the meeting, members of the Trenton City Council participated in a retreat as they began planning for the upcoming fiscal year as well as working on long-range activities.