The Trenton City Council approved bids and ordinances during a routine meeting on Monday night at Trenton City Hall.
A bid from Sydenstricker to purchase a sludge spreader trailer was tabled after it was learned that the cost to lease a tractor on which the trailer was to be used had doubled over what the council had originally been told. City Administrator Ron Urton reported that a government bid to John Deere dealers that would allow the city to lease the tractor at a reduced cost was no longer available and that bid, which had been estimated at around $8,400 a year, was now going to cost the city over $17,000 a year. In addition, the city would be required to enter into a five-year lease agreement, rather than the three- to five-year contract originally discussed.
Following much discussion, the council decided to table the trailer bid of $38,489 and, instead, have city personnel determine the cost of having the sludge removed by Rapid Removal until other options can be explored. Bob Hutchinson said that Rapid Removal had indicated it could remove a 20-yard container of sludge and dispose of it in a proper manner, however, the exact cost for that option was not known. Hutchinson is to get that information and report back to the Utility Committee of the council at a meeting tentatively set for Tuesday, March 7.
The council accepted a recommendation from the Utility Committee to negotiate with Burns and McDonnell of Kansas City for engineering services involving the sewer department’s effluent disinfection project and report, which is to be completed in 2019. The Request for Qualifications from Burns and McDonnell was one of five reviewed by the Utility Committee, which noted that Burns and McDonnell had done other projects for the city and was familiar with the sewer system. Once the price is agreed upon, it will be brought back to the council for final approval.
The council agreed to have Irvinbilt of Chillicothe install raw water valves at a cost of $7,890. A second bid, which was lower, did not meet the project specifications.
Also approved were bids from Kenny Ricketts and Danny Brewer to purchase scrap metal from the city.
Three ordinances concerning changes in the city municipal court system were adopted. City Attorney Tara Walker said a Missouri Supreme Court case led to the changes being made, which establishes a municipal court system through the Associate Division of the Circuit Court. In the case of Trenton, a clerk will be hired to handle municipal cases and will be located in the associate court office at the courthouse. The city will pay for 28 hours of the clerk’s salary. The court system will hire the clerk, however, the city will have say in the hiring process. All municipal court fines now paid at the police department will be paid at the courthouse. The changes begin on May 1.
Also approved was an ordinance for the city to enter into an agreement with the city of Lawson to have Trenton street crews pave roads, with Lawson paying the city up to $105,150 for the work. It is similar to a project the cities did two years ago, however, more roads are being paved.
All votes were 7-0 with Larry Porter absent.
In other business:
• Assistant Police Chief Lt. Rex Ross reported that a Coffee with a Cop session would be held on March 8 at Hardee’s and that the Chief’s Tea, a fundraiser for the women’s shelter, is scheduled for April 7.
• Fire Chief Brandon Gibler and Mayor Dr. Nick McHargue reminded residents that there is no burning in the streets allowed under city ordinance. Burning must take place on an individual’s property and that if a fire is to spread onto a neighbor’s property, a municipal ticket could be issued.
• Forefront, which is providing asbestos abatement services for the city’s 2016-17 demolition project, is to be in Trenton during the first two weeks of March to address several properties on the demolition list.
• Park Superintendent Jason Shuler noted work continues to take down trees which have “aged out” and become dangerous to leave up. He also reported that games were starting to be played on the city ballfields by the high school and college teams.
• Community Developer Ralph Boots said he has met with an individual interested in putting a business downtown while a second person is wanting to do building upgrades. He reported that the Trenton Downtown Improvement Association is loaning money for projects and that interested business owners can contact TDIA officials for more information. In an answer to Dr. McHargue’s question regarding the Ady Report, Boots said he was satisfied with the report “only if it doesn’t sit on the shelf.” He indicated work continues on transitioning the community developer’s position to an outside entity, with that effort scheduled to take place on May 1. There was also discussion involving the need for a hard surface road to the city’s industrial park in north Trenton, however, money has been an obstacle and Boots said there are no plans at this time to construct such a road.
• Dr. McHargue asked for information regarding the Solar Farm project and what kind of benefit the city is receiving regarding cost savings. TMU Comptroller Rosetta Marsh said the cost for the city to purchase power has decreased, noting that estimates had been listed at $40,000 per year. Mrs. Marsh and Steve Sims of the electric department indicated that information could be included in their reports next month.
• Urton reported that he and Mrs. Marsh would be visiting with the Grundy County Public Water Supply District regarding a new contract for water services. It was noted that the city would be asking for around a 12 percent increase in the water rates.
An executive session for personnel was held with no announcement made.
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