The Trenton City Council approved an agreement with LifeFlight Eagle to house a helicopter at the city airport during a meeting on Monday night at city hall.
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The Trenton City Council approved an agreement with LifeFlight Eagle to house a helicopter at the city airport during a meeting on Monday night at city hall.
On a 7-0 vote, with Gary Hurst absent, the council entered into the seven-year contract, which also has a three-year renewal option. There would be no rent paid for the first 12 months of the contract, however, beginning on July 1, 2006, LifeFlight would pay $1,125 per month on the first day of each month thereafter for the next 72 months. LifeFlight can then exercise its option to extend the agreement for three more years, continuing to pay rent of $1,125 per month during that time. The contract goes into effect immediately.
City Administrator Kerry Sampson recognized the efforts of Wright Memorial Hospital CEO John Woodrich in assisting with getting LifeFlight to locate its service in Trenton. Woodrich also recognized board member Wendell Lenhart and Sampson for their efforts.
The city has already approved a bid to renovate the main hangar at the airport to house LifeFlight personnel. It is hoped to have the service in place at the airport by July 1.
The council gave final approval to the city personnel policy manual, which Sampson said will go into effect on June 1. The manual was approved after the council agreed to make a change in the current smoking policy, prohibiting smoking and tobacco use in all city-owned vehicles.
The council approved adjustments to the 2004-2005 city budget to reflect actual expenditures and revenues, most of which City Clerk Cindy Simpson noted were ?in-and-out? expenses and revenues. Adjustments were made in the park fund, CDBG expenses, transportation expenses, self-insurance expenses, TIF expenses, unreimbursed medical expenses and community facility expenses.
Mowing bids on several city-owned properties were approved contingent upon the successful bidders showing proof of insurance. Ewing Lawn Detail had the low bid on five of the properties while Kenneth Howard had the low bid on three of the properties. The two bidders also had the same bid on one property. The vote was 6-0 with Kenneth Ewing abstaining.
Jackie Soptic reported to the council that the Building Board Committee has developed a list of over 60 properties which are to be looked at by the building inspector to check for violations to the city?s building code and nuisance ordinances. The committee will also be asking the city?s two attorneys to review the current building code and nuisance ordinances to see if improvements can be made. They will also be asked to look at developing a health ordinance to address nuisance issues as well. Mrs. Soptic said citizens are being encourage to call city hall if they observe any building code or nuisance violations, noting efforts are being made to keep houses in good repair while also improving the appearance of the community.
Newly-appointment Administrative Committee chairman Steve Perry said he plans to set up a meeting as soon as possible to address a number of issues, including animal control, animal waste on the walking trail, the possibility of developing an ordinance requiring reflectors on horsedrawn vehicles in the city limits and the clean up of city-owned property on Oklahoma Avenue. Economic Development Committee chairman Troy Smith said that committee will meet once the new community developer joins the city staff on May 2.
Terri Hammett appeared before the council to thank Sampson and Police Chief Bob Lewis for their assistance with a concern she had about a sexual offender living in the area near the Rissler Elementary School. Lewis noted the individual has moved to another community and also gave a brief explanation on state and federal laws regarding sexual offenders residing near a school. Councilman Dr. Nick McHargue noted the subject had been brought up during a school board candidate forum earlier this year and he asked Lewis to provide the council with a list of sexual offenders who live in Trenton .
Street Supervisor Larry Griffin reported the asphalt plant is now in operation and that the street department has been repairing storm sewers as well as getting ready to install tubes in several areas of town.
The next meeting of the city council is scheduled for Monday, May 9.