Three of the four members elected in last Tuesday’s balloting were given the oath of office. New First Ward Councilman Glen Briggs as well as incumbents Marvin Humphreys from the Second ward and Dave Mlika from the Third Ward were given the oath of office after election results were certified. Fourth Ward Councilman Duane Urich, who was also re-elected, was not present.
Prior to the new council being seated, an ordinance outlining the parameters of a new Animal Welfare Committee was approved. The five-member committee will be appointed by the mayor for three-year-terms beginning June 1. The council will have approval over the appointments and one council member will serve as an ex-officio member. The purpose of the committee is to advise the council on matters that arise related to animals in the city and the committee will act only in an advisory capacity.
The council also approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a Farmers Home Administration, USDA grant in the amount of $40,000. The funds will be used to help offset the purchase of a new air compressor and cascade system for the Trenton Fire Department and a new police vehicle with console equipment, a prisoner partition, vehicle graphics and patrol vehicle outfitting, as well as 17 portable radios and eight mobile radios for the TPD. The city is committing funds of around $187,957 for the purchases.
Council members also approved an amendment to the city’s ordinance concerning business licenses, creating a $15 daily business license for vendors providing goods or services during events determined by the city council to be eligible. The action came after a request at the last meeting to provide such a license to allow events such as a “Third Thursday” promotion to be held downtown.
Other action taking place under the “old” council included a discussion of painting the old R-9 building at the airport, which is currently under way by Eric Hauck, and approval of a memo that will direct the council to review the budget situation six months into the new budget year to determine if asphalt sales are sufficient to allow enough additional income to be used to authorize a $1 per hour employee cost of living allowance. The guideline, which was developed because the sales cannot be adequately determined when the budget is developed in March or April, may be utilized in future years but notes that the council will determine he appropriate COLA and establish a benchmark for asphalt sales each year. Any possible COLA will also go before the council for approval.
Following the swearing in of the newly-elected members, Trenton Mayor Linda Crooks made appointments to various committees, which include: Second Ward Councilman Danny Brewer, Briggs, Fourth Ward Councilman John Dolan and Humphreys, administrative committee; Dolan, Mlika, First Ward Councilman Lance Otto and Urich, finance committee; Third Ward Councilman Robert Romesburg, Mlika, Otto and Urich, economic development committee.
Liaisons to the various boards and committees were also named and Dolan was elected as the pro-tem.
With the new council in place, members took action to approve the requested budget from the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, which totaled $32,500; approved a policy that allows employees to donate paid time off to other employees; and held a discussion on how the city ordinance addresses ATVs and UTVs operating after dark. The council asked City Attorney Tara Walker to add a sentence to the current policy allowing city-permitted ATVs and UTVs to operate after dark “with proper lighting,” which is assumed to mean headlamps and taillamps.
The next regular meeting of the council will take place at 7 p.m. April 25.