Updates were given on several topics during the monthly meeting of the Trenton Downtown Improvement Association on Thursday night.
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Members authorized Association Director Richard Jacobsen to proceed with paperwork indicating Trenton’s interest in participating this year in the Missouri Community Betterment Awards program. Information highlighting five community improvement projects can be submitted for judging competition. An emphasis is expected to be placed on youth leadership and/or youth participation projects.
Association President Gary Hurst appointed a TDIA committee to work with college and city representatives on possible streetscape changes in a portion of the downtown area. Community Developer Ralph Boots said the city will make application to the state this fall on a 400 thousand dollar grant to finance proposed projects.
Chamber of Commerce President Debbie Carman reported on the development of a community calendar on the chamber website to serve as a centralized location for listing events and activities happening in Trenton. See www.trentonmochamber.com. She also announced Trenton Coca Cola will host Chamber After Hours at the Grundy County Museum the evening of June 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Gary Hurst said asbestos removal has started at the TDIA building downtown with indications that this project could be finished late next week. Then volunteers are to gut the building before any renovation work starts. Discussion also was held with Steve Ishmael on needed repairs to the exterior of the building.
Jacobsen also discussed efforts to acquire a clean title to the old railroad freight house in the Union Pacific yards. The Union Pacific last year gave a $10,000 grant to help Trenton Downtown Improvement Association purchase the building from a private individual. That money is in escrow until the title issue can be cleared up. TDIA members tabled any action last evening.
Jacobsen reviewed an engineers’ report on the condition of the Gilworth and American Legion buildings downtown. Details were previously given by the media.
Events were reviewed for the Gooseberry Festival June 17 and 18 in Trenton. Among them is the Five Points chili cookoff on June 18, sponsored by Trenton Downtown Improvement Association and North Central Missouri Childrens’ Advocacy Center. Boots discussed challenges that could be issued to encourage more participation among cooks. Pre-registrations, along with a copy of the rules, can be obtained at the Chamber of Commerce. Jacobsen reported publicity about the chili cookoff has been sought from news media outlets across the northern quarter of Missouri.
Jacobsen is working with a committee to plan for music and other activities July 4 at the Sesquicentennial Park downtown. And he mentioned the “movie in the park” event was rained out shortly after it started. Plans are to re-schedule the Citizens Bank and Trust-sponsored event for a Saturday night in July.