In an effort to increase applicants for police officer positions, the Trenton City Council, on Monday night, approved a proposal to pay for someone to attend a law enforcement academy. Police Chief Rex Ross said there have not been any applicants as the department continues to be short three officers. He noted that other communities that have successfully hired officers have offered recruitment incentives by sponsoring someone for the six-month course at an academy. With this in mind, Ross presented recruiting options for the council to consider. An officer starting with the Trenton Police Department has an annual wage of $45,864.
In a five-to-one voice vote, the council selected an option that reduces the wage by 12 percent to allow the individual to be “sponsored” by having the law enforcement academy tuition paid by the city, contingent on the recruit’s commitment to serve three years on the Trenton Police force. In favor were Calvin Brown, Tim Meinecke, David Mlika, Duane Urich, and John Dolan. Voting no was Marvin Humphreys. Absent were Bill Fisher and Glenn Briggs.
Ross said there might be criminal justice students at North Central Missouri College interested in a police officer position but believes financial commitments likely keep them, and others, from attending a law enforcement academy. He noted that the academies in St. Joseph and Warrensburg have indicated all their students are already sponsored.
The city council agreed to cover the cost of materials for the 2,400-volt conversion in an area from McPherson Street and Tinsman Avenue to 8th Street. The cost is more than $153,000, plus another $43,000 for 15 additional transformers to be ordered.
Electric distribution supervisor Brad Griffin said the cost is under the $400,000 budgeted amount. While TMU is purchasing the materials, Griffin noted that the labor will be contracted. Other areas of Trenton could also receive the power line conversion.
Comptroller Rosetta Marsh was asked to check on the brass water meters that were replaced to learn if they would be included someday in a scrap sale.
The council voted to donate surplus five-inch fire hoses if other departments are interested. Mlika suggested offering the used hose to Princeton and Unionville.
By ordinance, the council approved Poor Boy Tree Service of Fair Play, Missouri, for tree trimming. Up to $25,000 worth of work is to be done.
All State Consultants of Marceline were approved to provide part-time supervision at an hourly rate regarding the water treatment plant improvements, including the clarifier modification work. This amends an engineering contract initially accepted in 2020.
Following a public hearing, the tax levy was set at nearly one dollar and 19 cents ($1.1889) per 100 dollars of assessed valuation. One dollar is the maximum the city can collect for its general fund. Nearly 19 cents of the levy goes to the parks department.
At the beginning of the meeting, Trenton Police Officer Jeb Walker was honored for receiving a community service award at a conference hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s office. Chief Ross submitted the nomination for what he called a competitive process. Walker received a plaque, with another to be hung at the Trenton police station.
In his report, City Administrator Ron Urton said he learned yesterday that the Federal Aviation Administration has released money to Missouri’s Department of Transportation for Trenton to use on the six-bay airport hangar project. Once an approval letter is received, Urton said Trenton can award the construction bid.
Urton announced that the city did not receive any bids for projects involving the front wall and the back door of City Hall. He plans to consult with local contractors to encourage them to look into the proposed work.
Urton also reported that the city did not receive any requests for proposals (RFPs) regarding the infill housing program. This program is designed to encourage developers to build houses on city-owned lots. Urton said he’ll visit with a couple of developers who initially expressed interest but did not submit a proposal.
Urton told the council that Trenton is down two trucks that are in need of repairs. He described one as a small bucket truck and the other as a digger derrick truck. Urton commented that both are scheduled to be replaced by trucks the city has ordered but is still waiting for delivery.
It was a hot and humid Monday. Urton said TMU was notified in the early afternoon (12:40 p.m.) by the Missouri Public Utility Alliance to start generating power for the grid. Urton noted that ten of the 12 substation diesel generators started and were operated for approximately two hours. One generator needs repairs, and another will require someone from Altofer Power Systems to investigate why it didn’t run.
