The Trenton City Council approved plans to proceed with renovation of Burleigh Grimes Field, approving a memorandum of understanding as well as a bid for the work during a meeting on Monday night at Trenton City Hall.
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The memorandum of understanding is between the city of Trenton, the Trenton Park Department, North Central Missouri College, the Hoover Foundation and the American Legion, all of whom have indicated they will be making financial contributions to the project. The memorandum specifies the type of work to be completed as well as the in-kind services to be provided, the financial commitments and who will provide those services and commitments.
Phase I indicates a budget of $122,000 and includes contracted services, construction of new dugouts, construction of new fencing and relocation of light poles.
The vote for the memorandum was 6-2, with Dr. Nick McHargue and Jim Bush opposed. Dr. McHargue expressed concern as to whether or not the American Legion could come up with the $10,000 it had pledged to the project and also was concerned about a statement in the document that said “access to the field upon the completion of renovation will be limited to authorized personnel only.” He was told that Pony League and other baseball/softball-related teams would be able to use the field and that the statement referred to keeping individuals from operating bicycles on the field as well as persons walking their dogs.
Bush took issue with a portion of the bid from Turf Solutions Group of Peoria, IL, the low bidder for the project, which stated that “upon completion of the project, any unpaid balance due on account is subject to an 18 percent annual late charge or service charge.” He was concerned about whether or not the city would be able to withhold a portion of the payment until it is determined the project is completed to the city’s satisfaction. City Administrator Kerry Sampson noted that this was only a bid and that a contract would need to be drawn up which could include the withholding wording.
All eight members approved the bid from Turf Solutions, which was for $74,501.56. It was noted that this bid was around $20,000 less than the bid the company had submitted the first time when the city had decided to reject all bids because of the cost. A second bid was received from Game Time Athletics of Weston for a cost of $113,933.08, which is also less than the bid it submitted the first time.
The council heard a report from Carol Hobbs of New Hope, who presented information on recycling efforts within the city of Trenton. She said between 10 to 12 tons of recyclables are picked up each month in the city, including both residential and business users. Items that are recyclable include all types of paper productions, tin cans, aluminum cans, #1 and #2 plastics, tinfoil and shredded paper, which she said should be bagged separately. She asked that paper products also be bagged separately, with all other types of recyclables being bagged together.
Ms. Hobbs said that she has also been to area schools to visit with them about recycling efforts, including education and possible projects.
Councilman Steve Perry asked if there was some way New Hope could track the number of residents who actually use the service, noting that the city has not been able to have that information available before. Ms. Hobbs said she would make an effort to come up with some way to obtain those numbers and report them back to the city.
Approved were contracts between the city and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and the Union Pacific Railroad for funds that will be used to replace the 22nd Street Bridge. The commission is providing over $500,000 in state and federal funding for the work while Union Pacific will spend just over $333,000. The city will be providing funds from its STP account and will take over maintenance of the bridge once the work is complete.
Also approved was a change in the city ordinance to allow a $2 fee to be assessed on municipal court cases, with the funds to be used to help maintain the biometric verification system, a fingerprinting unit that can identify individuals within eight minutes by accessing a nationwide system. Police Chief Bob Lewis indicated the fee will generate around $1,016 per year, which will pay for half of the maintenance cost. He said the sheriff’s department will be using the unit and has agreed to pay the other half of the cost.
Mayor Cathie Smith asked volunteers in the community to help with snow and ice removal as well as removal of debris, such as tree limbs, for those individuals who are unable to do so, such as the elderly and the incapacitated. She said that any individual or organization wanting to volunteer, as well as anyone needing assisted, can call city hall during regular business hours. It was also noted that tree limbs could be taken to the city’s maintenance barn between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
In other business, the council:
• approved the re-appointment of Tim Allnutt to the Police Personnel Board.
• approved the appointment of Marcia Schroeder to the Tree Board.
• was told FEMA would be providing the city with around $16,000 to help pay the costs of city work associated with the recent ice storm. TMU expects to receive around $12,000 to $13,000.
• was told a meeting would be held on March 17 with CERT members and others interested in becoming a part of the CERT Team in an effort to expand the number of emergency volunteers.
• was told that the street department was out 16 days since Jan. 14 due to snow-related work, spending around $4,670 for salt, $3,000 for sand, $5,263 for overtime and $2,950 in additional fuel.
• was told that a contract has been signed with Irvinbilt for the wastewater treatment plant project and that a preconstruction conference would be held on Monday, March 3, with construction to start soon.
• was told work was continuing on the city budget, with information to be given to the Finance Committee for consideration within the next week.
• was told an assembly would be held at the high school on March 7 to discuss the youth council and attempt to get information as to what young people in the community see as concerns.
• referred a letter from the Grand River Lodge #52, IOOF, to the Administrative Committee. The letter asked the city to consider paving a 200-foot surface of the driveway at the IOOF Cemetery.