The Trenton City Council heard several reports and agreed to seek proposals for new legal counsel during a meeting on Monday night at city hall.
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The Trenton City Council heard several reports and agreed to seek proposals for new legal counsel during a meeting on Monday night at city hall.
City Administrator Kerry Sampson said the council will advertise for proposals from law firms interested in handling the city’s legal work. Sampson said the council will accept proposals that include both the regular legal work and prosecutor services as well as proposals for each one. The former city attorney, the late Chris Raynes, had handled both duties for the city. Sampson said the council wanted to have the option of having one attorney or law firm doing either both or splitting the duties.
Sampson went on to say that the council wants to have an attorney in place as soon as possible. In the interim, the council plans to use local attorneys on a rotating basis for the regular legal work until legal counsel is hired. Municipal court cases are on hold until a final decision is made.
Police Chief Bob Lewis reported that the Grundy County Law Enforcement Committee would be meeting tonight and conducting a telephone campaign in regard to the Feb. 8 election for a one-half cent sales tax to fund construction and operation of a new county/city law enforcement center. Lewis also answered questions from Councilman Dr. Nick McHargue and Carolyn Garcia concerning the issue, noting that should the issue be approved and a new center be built, the current public safety complex would continue to be used by other entities currently housed there, including the Trenton Fire Department, the Grundy County Rural Fire Association and the Grundy County Ambulance Service. It was noted that Fire Chief Tony Ralston is currently surveying those entities to be determine how the additional space would be used when the police department and 911 emergency services are moved into the law enforcement center.
In response to a question from Dr. McHargue, Lewis said that office space in the proposed center for the police department is actually less than what was available to the police department when it moved into the public safety complex. In response to a question from Mrs. Garcia, Lewis said that the number of bathrooms in the new building are necessary to make the facility “functional” for use as a law enforcement center. He also explained what was included in the proposed cost of the building, including site purchase and preparation, construction and furnishings as well as bond costs. Lewis said that each entity will be responsible for the operational costs of their part of the building.
Lewis reported efforts are still being made to secure officers to fill vacancies he has within the police department, including temporary replacement of three officers who are gone for military service. He noted the quality of applications has been less than what he would like to see and estimated the department is spending around $3,500 in overtime during each two-week pay period.
Lewis said that a portion of Harris Avenue will be closed early Saturday morning to allow a helicopter to place refrigeration units on top of the ConAgra building. Weather permitting, Harris Avenue will be closed between 17th Street and 13th Court from 7 to 9 a.m.
Ralston reported that a area fire training exercise would be held on Saturday, March 26 in Trenton. Departments which are members of the North Central Missouri Fire and Rescue will be sending individuals to participate in the training. He also announced that Jason Meeker of Laredo has been hired as a full-time fireman and will begin his duties on Jan. 28. Another individual has been offered a pay-per-call position, however, his name will not be released until he has officially accepted.
A storm spotter class, sponsored by the Grundy County Local Emergency Planning Committee, is being planned in Trenton on Tuesday, Feb. 8. The class will be held at the Grundy County Health Department, beginning at 7 p.m. Persons can contact John Beier at 359-6819 or 359-5154 for more information or to register.
Mrs. Garcia also asked that the city consider establishment of a pet cemetery with acreage at the edge of the city limits. While she didn’t have information concerning the possible size of land needed, she said she felt there was a need and would like to see the city help in this effort.
Dr. McHargue brought up the possibility of banning tobacco sales in the city of Trenton, discussing the the health risks involved and noting that several other communities have already done this. Mrs. Garcia suggested the city might also want to consider banning alcohol sales. Mayor Gary Hall said that further discussion of the issue should be placed on a future council agenda.
City Inspector Gary Beverlin said that work continues to organize the visit to Trenton by the World Changers in July. Approximately 275 youth and adults will be in Trenton for a community improvement project and that efforts are under way to determine which houses will be considered for the project.
Dr. McHargue said he has changed his mind on building inspections and now feels that rental property owners benefit from having the city’s inspector come to inspect their property. Dr. McHargue has had concerns about the city’s requirements for rental inspections in the past.
Street Department Supervisor Larry Griffin passed out a sheet of paper to each councilman, asking them to list stormwater projects in their ward they would like to see considered for future work.
Trenton Municipal Utilities Director Chad Davis announced that the Board of Public Works meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 3. The city’s contract with MoPEP will be reviewed.
Prior to the council meeting, the Building Board Committee met. City Clerk Cindy Simpson said once an asbestos inspection of the old Brainerd School is completed, the building is to be demolished. There was also a discussion concerning rental inspections, with concerns expressed to be sent to the Administrative Committee for continued discussion. The next meeting of the committee will be on Feb. 28.