City Council Overrides Veto Of Police Car Purchase

Bids and ordinances topped the agenda of the Trenton City Council when it met on Monday night at city hall.
The council approved eight bids, but not before overriding a veto of one of those bids – purchase of a new police vehicle. The bid of $28,711 was received from Barnes-Baker of Trenton and would replace a police vehicle with 87,000 miles and is currently used by Lt. Rex Ross. It was the only bid received. Chief Tommy Wright said the used vehicle would be sold by the city.
Expressing concern about what might happen to city finances should ConAgra be completely closed next spring, Mayor Dr. Nick McHargue vetoed the purchase, which was approved by the council on a 7-1 vote. Larry Crawford voted no. On a vote to override the veto, the car purchase was approved 6-2 with Crawford and David Mlika opposed.
Dr. McHargue said he would like to wait a year before considering the purchase of a new vehicle, noting that the city faces large cuts in its budget, including elimination of personnel, should ConAgra cease operation. It was noted that purchase of the vehicle was included in the budget approved by the council in April, however was $1,711 higher than what had been budgeted. Additional funding would come from the city’s capital improvement budget.
To finance the vehicle, the city unanimously approved a bid from US Bank to pay for the car over a three-year period at an interest rate of 3.44 percent. It was the only bid received.
The council also voted 8-0 to purchase the Omnigo software program with data conversion for the police department at a cost of $19,306. It replaces software currently being used that was purchased in 2007 and can no longer be serviced. Chief Wright noted that the program is “cloud based,” giving the department more storage as well as automatic updates. The software is used for the department’s records and reports as well as helps operate the 911 system. Chief Wright said that $12,000 had been budgeted for the new software, however, he feels that savings the department is realizing with using less personnel and not purchasing some items will result in a savings in the budget that can be used to make up the cost difference.
Other bids approved by the council on an 8-0 vote included purchase of a pickup v-snow plow and a hopper spreader for the street department from Knapheide of Kansas City at a cost of $6,430 for the plow ($70 under budget) and $4,954 for the spreader ($254 over budget); a sand bid from Stoner Sand of Mt. Moriah at $6.50 per ton (two bids were received for the same price); a rock bid from Norris Quarries of Trenton at $14.35 per ton (the only bid received and 40 cents higher than last year); and a crop ground bid from Aaron Landes for $161 per acre (two bids were received, with the Landes bid being higher). The crop ground bid is for a one-year period, beginning in March and includes approximately 44 acres of city-owned ground.
The council approved three ordinances and tabled a fourth regarding fiber optic service. Councilman Travis Elbert asked that the ordinance be tabled until more information could be received in light of the announcement by Mid-States Services it will be surveying residents of Trenton and the surrounding area about their interest in installation of fiber optic service. The council had been scheduled to take action on an agreement with Bluebird Network for fiber optic Internet service to the city’s electric distribution and warehouse building on Oklahoma Avenue. City hall already has fiber optic Internet service available. Discussion is expected to continue at the Nov. 27 council meeting.
The council did approve an ordinance, amending its contract with Grundy County for fiber optic service to the law enforcement center. Bluebird will be providing that service, with the county paying for installation and service at the LEC while the city would pay for the service at the emergency services building, which houses the fire department and ambulance service. The cost to each entity would be $375 per month.
Approval was given to an ordinance, granting a conditional use permit to North Central Missouri College that would allow construction of a new Head Start facility next to its central office at 301 W. 18th St. As part of the permit, the council will be allowing the permit to continue with sale of the facility as long as that sale allows for the building to be used for educational purposes.
The council also approved an amendment to its agreement with the Highways and Transportation Commission, extending the timeline to next spring for improvements being made at the airport.
The council voted to take over payment of electric costs at the “Welcome to Trenton” signs, which has been paid for by the park department in the past. It is estimated that cost is around $30 per month. The park department will continue to mow and do other upkeep around the sign.
Among reports given:
• It was noted that LifeFlight has moved out of its facility at the airport and has been billed for usage for the month of November.
• The engineer is reviewing documents and waiting for the go-ahead from the Missouri Department of Transportation to move ahead with negotiating with property owners to obtain needed easements for the 17th Street Bridge Project.
• Inspection of the city reservoir will be taking place today as required by the city’s insurance company.
• The street department is down three persons due to illness and one individual leaving for another job.
• The police department’s “Shop with a Cop” program will take place in mid-December.
• It was announced the Utility Committee would hold a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21.