Two issues that have been the topic of discussion more than once were on the agenda again for Monday night’s meeting of the Trenton City Council.
Council members met with Jim Watje, owner of the city’s waste hauler, Rapid Removal, and his attorney, Brad Grill, during the meeting. Grill had been contacted by Trenton City Attorney Tara Walker after council members said at the Nov. 8 meeting that they wished to look into options for getting out of the city’s contract with the company. The current contract runs through Dec. 31, 2023 but contains a 60-day “out” if either side wishes to end the contract early.
The issue has been customers complaining that bulky items were not picked up and that sometimes their regular trash was not picked up, even if all the other trash on their street was taken. Grill told the council that when you compare the number of households served versus the number of complaints, it is actually very small. While no one on the council disagreed with that, several said the company’s customer service when they have to interact with the public is a problem as is the fact that Watje promised in July that he would provide a customer “education” letter to be placed in utility bills and that letter has yet to be provided.
The need for customers to be “educated” in what can and cannot be picked up was the topic of a meeting with Watje in July 2020 as well as in July 2021. When asked why he has not provided the letter he said he would have to list every single item that could not be picked up, such as each size board. Council members said that’s not the case and that it doesn’t have to be that specific.
Ultimately, the council asked that Watje work with the city to cooperatively come up with a letter that will be placed in the utility bills that will give customers a better idea of what constitutes a “bulky” item and some of the things that cannot be picked up, such as yard waste (per the Department of Natural Resources), items containing springs, etc. That letter is to be placed in the December utility bill.
The other issue that has been a mainstay of conversation recently is the city’s breed-specific dog ordinance which prohibits citizens from having certain dog breeds within the city limits. First Ward Councilman Lance Otto has taken the lead on looking into how the city can ensure it’s animal ordinance is strong enough if the breed-specific ordinance is repealed. Otto, who said he has been “getting it” from both sides of the issue, believes one focus needs to be on tethering laws (ensuring that dogs are not left tethered for hours at a time) something that he cannot find in the current city code. He said he wants to be sure that any possible loopholes in the current animal ordinances would be addressed before repealing the breed-specific ordinance and noted that while the “dangerous dog” ordinance is used to rid the city of dogs that have been deemed vicious or dangerous, that action is reactive, coming after an incident has occurred.
The various penalties for violating the city’s current laws were discussed and as has been the case in previous conversations at council meetings, it was noted that the breed-specific ordinance is nearly impossible to enforce because it basically takes a DNA test to prove a dog is one of the breeds that are prohibited, something that is cost-prohibitive. Otto said he would like to see the issue sent back to the administrative committee, which in September voted 2-1 to not recommend the repeal of the ordinance, for further investigation and consideration. In the end, that’s what happened and it will certainly come back up for discussion at a future council meeting.
Out of the discussion concerning dogs came a suggestion from Third Ward Councilman Robert Romesburg, who said the city might want to consider forming an “Animal Welfare Committee.” He said such a committee would not just work with the Green Hills Animal Shelter board but would also have input on any issue that involves the welfare of animals. The council would have the final word on any ordinances, but the committee could do the legwork such as other committees do for the park system, utilities, etc. Mrs. Walker said the formation of such a committee would require an ordinance to be passed by the council.
Council members approved the employment of three new police officers, Faith Fliflet, Bryan Roberts and Trever Ratliff. All three have experience, with Ratliff currently serving as a deputy with the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department. They will begin their duties after giving notice at their current positions. Ross said the hirings will bring the department to full staff.
In other business, the council approved an ordinance entering into an agreement with Earthworks Excavation and Associates LLC for installation of a water main and related piping for the wastewater treatment plant in the amount of $171,203. The vote was 7-1 with Otto, Romesburg, First Ward Councilman Kevin Klinginsmith, Second Ward Councilman Marvin Humphreys, Third Ward Councilman David Mlika and Fourth Ward Councilmen John Dolan and Duane Urich voting yes and Second Ward Councilman Danny Brewer voting no.
The council voted 8-0 to enter into a contract with Toth and Associates for the preparation of cost of service and rate design for both the water and sewer departments. The total cost for both studies combined is $10,780 and it was noted that $50,000 had been budgeted for the studies. Trenton City Administrator Ron Urton said the city has received a discount for being a member of the Missouri Public Utility Alliance.
In his report, Urton told the council that the new transformer at the electric plant substation is online and the water main at Second Street and Connie Lane is installed and being tested. Once it passes inspection, service will be connected, the old main will be abandoned and a fire hydrant will be installed. Urton also told the council the asphalt plant has been shut down for the year after selling about 21,000 tons of asphalt.
The next regular meeting of the council is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 13.
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