Nine delapidated structures are set to be demolished this year after the Trenton City Council accepted a bid from a Kidder company at Monday evening’s meeting.
On the recommendation of the Building and Nuisance Board, the demolition bid for 2021 was awarded to Red Rock at a cost of $42,000 for the demolition of nine structures. The company had submitted a base bid of $43,400, approximately $20,000 less than bids submitted by Spalding Constructors and Perkins Dozing. Since he was awarded the bid for all nine properties, the discount will be applied, bringing the cost to $42,000.
The properties slated for demolition this year include 200 W. Seventh St., owned by Karen Todd; 114 W. Fifth St., owned by John Moore; 403 Jefferson St., owned by Mike Airey; 213 W. Sixth St., owned by Bob Lewis; 1311 Gilmore St., owned by Randy Schroeder; 1701 Chestnut St., owned by Aaron Bright; 1721 Lulu St., owned by Vern Jenkins; 2012 Oak St., owned by Jody Hadley; and 911 Kumler St., owned by Cale Gondringer.
Property owners will pay a portion of the cost, totaling $19,050, with the exception of the property at 1721 Lulu St., which will be covered by the city. The city had budgeted $30,000 for the entire demolition project, with that cost coming in at $25,900 so the $4,100 needed for the Lulu Street property abatement will bring the cost up to the exact amount budgeted. If there is a cost for hazardous materials abatement, that will be paid for by the property owner. Seven properties were on the 2020 demolition list.
The council approved a bid from Shuler Concrete of Trenton for repairs to be made to the pavement at the fire station. The base bid, which was for $22,947.44 was the lowest of four bids received. Even with an alternate bid of $2,626 for cleaning and sealing the existing joints on the north apron, Shuler’s bid was still lower than the base bid submitted by Kramer Con-struction of $25,777.32. Spalding Construction submitted a bid of $28,758.96 and MTS Construction submitted a bid of $42,011.32.
In other business, the council heard a request from Adam Clear to consider reconciling the city ordinance concerning exotic/dangerous animals with state statute. Clear’s interest is in the allowed length of snakes, with the city ordinance setting the limit at six feet and state statute setting it at eight feet. Another area that doesn’t match is with which agencies an animal has to be registered. Clear told the council he wants to open a “reptilarium” in the downtown area, similar to an aquarium but for reptiles. He said the reptilarium would be free to visitors and he would fund it through the sale, mostly online, of reptiles that he would breed. He would not be selling out of the downtown location and would not be keeping anything venomous. He said he hoped to employ as many as four people to help run the venue.
The council agreed to move the issue to the administrative committee along with the recurring issue of needing someone to remove snow on the sidewalk over the Ninth Street Bridge. The committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2.
The council agreed to consider a proposal from Police Chief Rex Ross, who has been working to attract new officers to the department, where there is a severe shortage at the moment. Chief Ross asked the council to consider allowing him to offer reimbursement for the training officers undergo to become police officers. That amount, he estimated, would be between $5,500 and $7,000 per officer and would obligate the officer to remain employed with the city for a certain period of time or be required to repay the city for its outlay. Ross is preparing to attend a job fair at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg at the end of February and said, if the council agrees, this would be a valuable recruiting tool since many departments are now offering it, including Bethany. There are currently 29 uncommitted trainees going through the program and Ross said they would not be finished with training and ready to begin until about mid-June. Council members asked to see a proposed budget and more information on the idea at the next meeting.
In other business, City Administrator/Utility Director Ron Urton said a representative from D.A. Davidson and Company has contacted him to say the current low interest rates make it a good time for the city to look at refinancing the 2012 and 2014 bonds. One of them goes out to 2036 and the other to 2038. Urton also said work continues on the 17th Street Bridge.
The 2021 budget is in the process of being developed and is expected to be presented to the council for approval at the first meeting in April. The Finance Committee agreed to meet on the first three Thursdays in February to get the process under way.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 8.
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