Street Supervisor Retiring After Nearly 40 Years On Job

A long-time employee of the city of Trenton has announced plans to retire later this year.
Street Supervisor Larry Griffin will be retiring, effective Oct. 1, after nearly 40 years of service with the city. The announcement was made following an executive session of the Trenton City Council on Monday night.
City Administrator Kerry Sampson said an announcement will be made later in regard to a replacement for Griffin, who will have been with the city 39 years and eight months when he retires.
“Larry has been great to work with,” Sampson said. “He runs a tight ship and demands high standards of performance and service. He is one of the top supervisors we have had here.”
During the open portion of the meeting, the council approved three ordinances, one of which was vetoed by Mayor Dr. Nick McHargue and had to be overridden by a vote of the seven members present. That ordinance, which was approved 6-0-1 on the initial vote, allowed for an increase in business license and building contractor fees. The vote to override the veto was 6-1. Jim Bush cast the lone no vote as well as abstained in the first vote while Mark Moore was absent. Voting in favor both times were Allan Quilty, Mark Robinson, Kenneth Ewing, Travis Elbert, Chuck Elliott and Larry Huffstutter.
The ordinance increases the license tax for businesses with gross receipts up to $250,000 by $15 to $50. Each additional gross receipt of $250,000 would require an additional $50, with a maximum of $300 to be paid (the current rate). Contractors living inside the city limits or having a business inside the city limits would continue to pay $50, while itinerant or contractors outside the city limits would be required to pay $100 for their licenses, up from $50. This is based on the same gross receipts requirement, with an additional $50 for each $250,000, with no more than $300 being paid for a license.
In vetoing the ordinance, Dr. McHargue said he felt it was unfair to raise fees without a vote of the citizens, adding that raising fees would be a detriment to attracting business to the community. Several councilmen indicated that the increases were minimal when looking at the cost of doing business.
The other two ordinances involved updating the current code to give the building inspector “more teeth” in enforcing the building code, particularly in regard to residential rental units. The first ordinance allows the building inspector to seek an appropriate court order to “authorize an inspection of a unit should the owner, occupant or other person in charge of the dwelling fail or refuse to permit free access and entry into the structure or premises under his/her control.” It also requires rental property inspections to be conducted upon the sale or transfer of the property.
The second ordinance, which requires occupancy permits and fees, adds to the definition of rental property those structures being sold in a regular sale, contract for deed, rent to own agreement or “any other arrangement in which the owner of the dwelling allows a non-owner to occupy the dwelling in exchange for fees or services.”
The council discussed a letter from the County Treasurer Barb Harris, asking that the city repay $10,627.41 in tax money distributed in error by the county “due to a computer glitch.” The money was protested taxes by the Wright Memorial Physicians Clinic, which were put into escrow by the treasurer’s office, but then dispersed in error. Of the total, $1,040.27 was dispersed to the surtax fund, $8,092.66 was dispersed to the city and $1,494.48 was dispersed to the park system. City officials are to visit with the county about the situation, noting that there remains a dispute in regard to payment by the county to the city for dispatcher service.
Residents were reminded that this is Community Pride Clean-Up Week in Trenton and were asked to clean up around their properties. It was noted that the brush dump at the city street department will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday for residential brush disposal only. There will also be recycling of certain items from 9 a.m. to noon at the former Maggie’s Mess building on East Seventh Street.
Residents are also reminded that the city ordinance does not allow grass clippings to be left in the street after mowing. Leaf burning is also not allowed in the street.
Several reports were given during the evening, including:
• Councilman Huffstutter reported on the Building and Nuisance Board meeting held prior to the council meeting (see accompanying story).
• Core samples are being taken near the 17th Street Bridge as part of an engineering study to replace the structure. A portion of 17th Street is expected to be closed as the work continues and a detour route will be announced by the city once the route is determined.
• A fly-in breakfast will be held at the Trenton Municipal Airport on Friday, July 4. Preceptor Nu chapter of Beta Sigma Phi will sponsor the breakfast, which will be open to the public.
• The Police Chief’s Tea to benefit the women’s shelter was held last Friday with 70 in attendance. The two new police officers are now on staff along with a new dispatcher. The police department is getting ready for the Cops and Bobbers fishing event, set for Saturday, June 7, and will be sponsoring a Coffee with a Cop event on Wednesday at the TNT Convenience Store on 28th Street from 7 to 9 a.m.
• Sampson said the city will begin examining the employee insurance situation in July. It is hoped to have something in place before the end of the year.
• An Economic Development Committee meeting is to be held prior to the next city council meeting on May 12 to update members on projects. The Administrative Committee will also be meeting on variety of topics.
In addition to personnel, the council also addressed legal matters during its executive session with no other announcement made.