The Trenton City Council has set a special meeting for Monday, Oct. 3, to review and approve the latest bypass elimination plan for the city’s wastewater system as well as look at what sewer rates will need to be in order to meet the monetary obligation the city will have regarding implementation of the plan.
The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at city hall. The plan includes various projects the city will need to complete to meet regulations set forth by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, with which the city reached an agreement after the city did not meet permitted effluent limitations for E. coli in its wastewater treatment process. In making a settlement agreement with the DNR, the city and Trenton Municipal Utilities were required to pay a $5,000 civil penalty as well as develop the bypass elimination plan, which is to be in place by Nov. 1. The city is looking at implementation of the plan to be done in stages and be completed by 2019.
During a meeting of the council on Monday night, it was learned that state funding the city had hoped to receive for the 17th Street Bridge replacement has been withheld by Gov. Jay Nixon. City Clerk and Interim City Administrator Cindy Simpson said Trenton was one of several communities seeking funds from the Missouri Moves program, which would have helped with costs associated with the bridge project. The city had been informed earlier that federal funding it had hoped to receive would not be forthcoming. Mrs. Simpson is to meet with representatives from Union Pacific, which is also providing funds for the project, to see how long that money would be available while the city meets with MoDOT to look at other options.
The council approved two ordinances regarding improvements to the airport. The first officially hired Ameriseal, Inc. of Ohio to do work on the airport runway at a cost of around $399,000. The second amended the city’s agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, outlining that the state would pay for 90 percent of the cost of the project through a $400,000 grant received by the city, which will be responsible for 10 percent of the total cost. The vote on both ordinances was 7-1, with Brad Chumbley voting no.
The council approved the re-appointment of Dr. Andy Cox and Gary Schuett to the park board along with Josh Lisle, who will be replacing Kari Whitaker. Mrs. Simpson was appointed as an authorized representative on a series of bonds issued by the city in 2012. TMU Comptroller Rosetta Marsh is also a representative.
The council’s Administrative Committee will look at revising its ordinance to specifically state that residents are responsible for the care and upkeep of city right-of-way that runs along their property. City Attorney Tara Walker is to also look at the legality of whether or not the city can require inspections of long-term room rentals at motels and hotels. The current ordinance does not allow that.
Among reports heard by the council:
• Mrs. Simpson reported the city had seven to eight applicants for the city administrator/utility director position. She said the job is being advertised through the Missouri Municipal League through the end of September. She also asked that the Finance Committee meet within the next few weeks regarding the changes to be made in wage requirements by the federal government and its effect on the city.
• Mrs. Marsh reported that efforts are being made to finish up the city/utility audit, which will need to be available to the city’s bonding companies by Oct. 31. She outlined activities for Public Power Week, which is next week and includes an open house on Friday, Oct. 7 as well as a drawing for persons making a donation to the city’s Utilishare fund that could result in a $50 reduction on the winner’s bill. Mrs. Marsh was asked by Councilman Dave Mlika about what her working hours are, adding that she was seen “running around town” during the day. She responded by telling him that she works from 7 a.m. to anywhere between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. each day and that her job includes her going to other TMU buildings to assist with activities, including computer work, meetings on projects, etc.
• Community Developer Ralph Boots reported on several project ideas he gleaned while judging communities in the Missouri Community Betterment competition earlier this month. He also reported on activities of the North Central Missouri Business Facility as well as the PLUG group, which assisted with submitting an application for the MCB competition on behalf of the city of Trenton. He said that reports from Ady Advantage, a firm hired to assist with the ConAgra transition, should be available within the next 30 days.
• Code Enforcement Officer Donnie Vandevender reported that signatures from two property owners still need to be obtained before the city’s demolition project can get under way. He and Mrs. Simpson are to meet with an individual today regarding damage to the card reader at the airport. Cost to repair the reader has been estimated at over $1,970.
• Police Chief Tommy Wright reported that he has received three applications for a vacancy on the police force.
• Fire Chief Brandon Gibler reported that Jeremy Summers and Shawn Gott have been hired to fill the two vacancies on the fire department and will start the first week in October.
• Members of the city council recognized employees for their efforts in restoring power and cleaning up the community following last week’s storm. Recognition was also given to the Serve Trenton organization for their clean-up efforts last weekend and it was suggested that the organizers be asked to come to a future council meeting to receive a “Tidy Up” Award.
• Street Supervisor Martin Schieb gave an update on asphalt sales, which have gone over the 13,000 ton mark with nearly a month to go. He also reported that the street department and park department will begin asphalting areas of the walking trail, beginning today.
• TMU Water Supervisor Steve Reid reported that a “burn out” of the city’s water system is planned in the near future in which the system’s ammonia will be shut off to clear the chlorine as required by DNR. He said citizens would experience some taste differences. He said a public notice would be made through the media when the “burn out” would occur.
An executive session for legal matters was held with no announcement made.
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