The Trenton City Council approved a contract with the Missouri Department of Transportation, approved bids for police cars and equipment and took part in a presentation to Police Chief Bob Lewis during a meeting on Monday night at city hall.
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The Trenton City Council approved a contract with the Missouri Department of Transportation, approved bids for police cars and equipment and took part in a presentation to Police Chief Bob Lewis during a meeting on Monday night at city hall. All votes taken by the council were 8-0.
Approved by the council was a contract with MoDOT, allowing the city to receive reimbursement for improvements being made at the city airport. The city has been awarded a yearly grant of $150,000 for a three-year period. City Administrator Kerry Sampson said the contract is required for the city to receive the money, which this year is being used to pay for a consultant to help develop plans for better use of the airport facilities.
The council voted to purchase two new police cars from Don Brown Chevrolet of St. Louis, which was the state bid and the only one received. The cars will be purchased at a cost of $33,642. However, the city will receive a trade-in on two of its present cars of $8,900, resulting in a cost to the city of $24,742. Sampson said this was within a few hundred dollars of what had been budgeted for the purchase.
Also approved was the purchase of a new video camera for a police car. The camera will be purchased from Kustom Signals, Inc of Lenexa, KS at a cost of $5,940. It is the same type of camera being used in other police cars and is being purchased from the same company as the others. It was the only bid received.
Col. Dennis Goldsmith of the Marine Corps Mobilization Command at Richards-Gebaur Complex in Kansas City appeared before the council to make a presentation to Chief Lewis, recognizing the police department for its support of the National Guard. Four members of the police department, as well as one Trenton Municipal Utilities employee, have served in the National Guard and been deployed for active duty to Iraq. Two members of the police department, Jeb Walker and Larry Adams, remain on active duty, with Walker still in Iraq. The other police officers include Kris Schmidt and Jesse Wills. Henrietta Peacock of TMU also served in Iraq.
Goldsmith said the police department had an unusual number of individuals who served in the guard and is to be featured in a future article written by the military. Mayor Gary Hall also praised the police department’s efforts in its support of the guard.
The council approved the employment of Jamesport native Cyle Fewins as a police officer, effective June 7. The 23-year-old is currently employed as an officer in Centralia. He has an associate degree in criminal justice from North Central Missouri College and received his law enforcement training through the academy at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph.
Sampson reported that plans are under way to hold a citywide clean-up effort during the month of June, which would include the recycling of old tires, appliances and dried paint. Additional information about the clean-up will be announced when details are finalized.
Sampson also reported that work is under way at the old landfill to make improvements as required by the Department of Natural Resources. He said that the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce has asked to meet with the council to discuss issues, with a tentative date of Monday, June 13 planned. That would be the date of the normal council meeting, with the two groups to meet at 6 p.m., prior to the council meeting.
Street Supervisor Larry Griffin reported that asphalt work is completed on the second phase of the walking track, with dirt work to begin today. Once that is completed, the park board will do the seeding work.
Councilman Dr. Nick McHargue announced that plans are under way for the Gooseberry Festival, which will take place Friday, June 17 through Sunday, June 19. A number of activities are planned, including ATV races, a walk/run race, a gooseberry queen contest, a t-ball tournament, a horseshoe tournament, a country music show, a golfing event and a boxing show. The Master Gardeners will also have a garden tour on Sunday.
Councilman Steve Perry said efforts are under way to plan the city?s 150th birthday celebration, which will be in 2007. Committees have been formed and persons wanting to help with the event are asked to contact Phil Schlarb or Terri Henderson.
Prior to the council meeting, the city?s building board committee met and voted to send a letter declaring property at 1211 Normal St. a nuisance. The board also heard updates on other property concerns.
Attorney Corey Herron met with the committee to review changes in the city ordinance, which would give the building inspector authority to write tickets for building code violations as well as obtain warrants when necessary. The board asked Herron to look at including language that would also allow the building inspector the same authority for nuisance violations.
The board reviewed an inspection of buildings in the block of 1100 Main Street by a professional engineer, which indicated some concerns with items falling from the buildings that could cause injuries to persons walking by the structures. Herron is to research what the city?s liability is in this situation, with the city then taking the action it needs.
The board also held an executive session for legal matters, with no announcement made.