Chairmen of the various committees that operate as part of the Trenton City Council met Tuesday evening to elect chairmen, with the utility committee also holding its regular monthly meeting.
New committees formed after the April 5 election and the new chairmen include:
Administrative – Danny Brewer, chairman; Glen Briggs, John Dolan and Marvin Humphreys.
Economic Development – Duane Urich, chairman; Robert Romesburg, Lance Otto and David Mlika.
Finance – John Dolan, chairman; David Mlika, Lance Otto, Duane Urich.
Utility – Duane Urich, chairman; Danny Brewer, John Dolan.
Among the matters discussed by the Utility Committee was a leak in a carbon dioxide tank at the water treatment plant. Plant Supervisor Steve Reid said the leak is behind a vapor return valve. The cost to fix the leak and replace two relief valves was listed at $10,190.80, with CRT, a South Carolina company, providing a quote at that price. Reid said the work will only take one day to complete but the city will need to be sure the tank is empty and have a CO2 truck at the scene to allow for testing after the repairs are made. Reid said the process is too dangerous for city crews to perform the work and it is best left to professionals.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor Bob Hutchison told the committee that the purchas of five lift station pumps that were included in the 2022 budget need approval from the city council at Monday night’s meeting. The total cost for the pumps is $34,000.
Comptroller Rosetta Marsh reported on the transition to the AMI tantalus electric meters, noting that 800 more meters have been ordered and are ready to install. At that point, 82 percent of the meters will be changed out to the AMI meters. She said 1,740 new meters have been installed. She said work will continue on getting the remaining 500 to 600 water meters to read as water crews troubleshoot the meters and the pit locations.
Mrs. Marsh briefly discussed the utility’s financial status, noting that there are excesses in the fund balances for the electric and water departments, but that is because there are major expenditures that will come out of those funds this month and there will be a considerable drop in the fund balance next month.
Utility Director Ron Urton told the committee that he will look into developing an ordinance that changes how the utility committee is formed and functions. Any change would not take effect until next April.
The Utility Committee will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 23.
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