FLIP PAGES FOR WEBSITE.qxp_Trenton Republican-Times 12/30/21 10:59 AM Page 1
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021
R-T 75¢
TRENTON
REPUBLICAN-TIMES ©Honeycutt Media, LLC
12 PAGES
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 158th Year - No. 34
republican-times.com
BRIEFS County Commission Agenda
The Grundy County Commission will hold its regular weekly meeting Tuesday at the courthouse. The only item on the agenda is an 11:30 meeting with Jackie Soptic and Corinne Watts of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission to discuss the per capita resolution.
Grundy Electric Closes Office
R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
HOLIDAY HOOPS IN THE BOOKS The North Central Missouri College Foundation’s Holiday Hoops event wraps up today (Friday). The final four games, played today, brought to a conclusion the 17th edition of the event, held at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton. Above, Princeton’s Addy Henke out-runs Rock Port’s defense on a fast break on Tuesday. Henke and the Tigers picked up a 63-42 win in the game. SPORTS, 2
Contested Races Set Up After Filings Several Individuals Vie For School And Municipal Positions The filing deadline for the April 5 School and Municipal Election has passed, with several entities having contested races. Filings reported to the Republican-Times as of Thursday morning were: School Boards Trenton R-9 - Filing for three-year terms were incumbent Dorothy Taul as well as Jeffrey Spencer, Toby Havens and Joshua Shuler. Jason Hostetler is the only candidate who has filed for the one-year unexpired term to which he was appointed. Incumbent Marcie Cutsinger chose not to seek re-election to the board. Pleasant View R-6 - The incumbents are Danny Wescott and Laurie Frisbie. No filings were reported to the R-T. Laredo R-7 - The incumbents are Angie Lowrey and Kristi Urich. No filings were reported to the R-T. Spickard R-2 - The incumbents are Paula Fagan and Nancy Anderson. No filings were reported to the R-T. Gallatin R-5 - The only candidates who filed are the two incumbents, Anita Riley and Jesse Bird. Tri-County - Incumbent Jennifer Simons
has filed as well as Micha Dixon. The late Trent Brewer was the other incumbent. Newtown-Harris - Robin Moschetti filed for one of two three-year terms. The incumbents are Matt Miller and Nancy Halferty. Princeton R-5 - Princeton had four file for the two vacant seats on the board. Incumbents Ron Parson and Nathan Evans both filed for re-election, while Tracy Ellsworth and Anthony Henke have filed as well. Grundy R-5 - Incumbents Opie Peterson and Allen Berry both filed for re-election. They were the only two to file for the positions. Gilman City R-4 - Ross Oram and incumbant Kelly Sperry have filed. The other incumbent, Matt Clark, did not file for reelection. Municipal Filings Trenton - There are two contested races with incumbent Kevin Klinginsmith from the first ward being challenged by Glen Briggs and incumbent Duane Urich from the fourth ward being challenged by Bob McIntyre. Second Ward Councilman Marvin Humphreys and Third Ward Councilman David Mlika have also filed, with no opposition. Spickard - The incumbents are Cindy Edwards and Charles Holtzclaw. No filings were reported to the R-T. Laredo - Carol Holloway is the incum-
bent mayor, with Helen Golden and Bruce McFie being the incumbent at-large aldermen. There is also an unfilled one-year unexpired term. No filings were reported to the R-T. Galt - Jay Blackburn and Lewis Berry (who was appointed to the position) are the incumbents. No filings were reported to the R-T. Gallatin- The incumbents are Dan Lockridge from the west ward and Dan McCann from the east ward. Both have filed for reelection. There will be a race in the west ward as Charles Wortman has also filed for the board position. Princeton - Incumbents Tony Johnson, representing the north ward, and Karee Cunningham, representing the south ward, both filed for re-election. Jamesport - South Ward Alderman Brandon Robb and North Ward Alderman Rob Murphy have both filed for re-election. Other Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors - Jim Cox and Jim Bush, the two incumbents, have both filed for re-election. North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees - the two incumbents, Diane Lowrey and Chris Hoffman, have both filed for re-election. No election will need to be held.
On Tuesday, the Grundy Electric Cooperative announced that it will be closing its satellite office in Princeton, effective Jan. 31, 2022. Cooperative members in the area will still have the ability to drop off payment at a deposit box, which is being constructed at the Co-ops Princeton Warehouse, located at 300 North Stewart Street. Other bill-paying options for members include: paying in person at the Trenton office; Paying via telephone; dropping off payment at deposit boxes at the Trenton office, Bethany or Princeton warehouse; paying via mail; paying via recurring ACH from a checking account, savings account or credit card; or making payment online.
‘Beds For Bulldogs’
Bright Futures Trenton and Bright Futures Gallatin have teamed up to bring “Beds for Bulldogs,” a joint effort to meet the growing need for beds for children in the communities of Trenton and Gallatin. Sports fans from both communities will have the opportunity to donate toward the project at the “Bulldog Challenge” basketball games at Gallatin on Tuesday. The Trenton and Gallatin branches of Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri have started the program strong with a combined donation of $1,000 as well as matching community donations up to another $1,000. Each bed kit (frame, mattress, bedding, mattress protector) costs approximately $380. The gate proceeds from the Jan. 4 varsity basketball games will go toward the project and those attending will also be able to make a donation. The goal is to have 10 beds available for students to meet an identified need within 24 hours. In addition to the gate proceeds, those wishing to mail a donation may send them to Bright Futures Gallatin at 602 Olive St., Gallatin, MO 64640 OR Bright Futures Trenton, P.O. Box 593, Trenton, MO 64683.
Gallatin Aldermen Approve Surplus Budget For 2022 City Police Officers Will Get Pay Bump To $15 An Hour The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved a surplus 2022 budget during a meeting Monday evening that includes a salary increase for city employees and funds to repair several city streets. The overall budget shows anticipated revenue of $6,867,705.95 and expected expenditures of $6,342,094.94 for a surplus of $525,611.01. All of the city’s funds show a balanced or surplus budget projected for the end of the 2022 budget year, with the General Fund showing revenue of $1,991,113.03 and expenses of $1,737,275.09. The Park Fund shows a balanced budget of $49,093.71. The city will use the existing fund balance of
$11,801.21 toward park projects, transfering those funds from the Park Savings Account. The Pool Fund shows both revenues and expenditures of $34,551.75 and the Band Fund, which receives its revenue from the band tax, shows revenue of $2,621 and budgeted expenses of $2,500. The Cemetery Fund, which is used for the two city-owned cemeteries, shows revenue and expenditures of $16,000, most of which is used for mowing. The Electric Department is showing a surplus of $26,100.38, with revenue projected at $2,241,940.98 and expenditures estimated at $2,215,840.60. The Water Department shows an anticipated surplus of $174,689.80, with the expected revenue coming in at $1,124,352.48 and expenditures of $949,662.68. The Wastewater Fund is projecting revenue of $1,408,033 and expenses of $1,337,171.11 for an anticipated $70,861.89 surplus. A note in the
budget ordinance indicates that $226,100, the existing fund balance, will be used for the FEMA cash grant match. The budget includes an average overall salary increase of 4.8 percent, with the biggest increase coming for full- and part-time police officers, whose starting hourly wage will go from $13 to $15 per hour. Among the other expenditures in the budget is a street resurfacing project that will include $500,000 that will be obtained through a seven-year loan and $500,000 from a Community Development Block Grant. The Sewer Department will incur an expenditure of $880,855 for a new clarifier at the wastewater plant, with 80 percent of the cost coming from a grant. Both the street and water departments have budgeted for new trucks, each at $45,000. The budget also includes an $11,344 lease payment for a mini exca-
vator. The vote to approve the budget was 3-0, with aldermen Dan McCann, Carl McBee and Dan Lockridge present and alderman Steve Evans and Mayor Barbara Ballew absent. A complete copy of the budget is available at city hall. In other business, the board approved an ordinance amending the 2021 budget to show actual revenue and expenditures and account for any instances in which reserve funds were utilized. In his report, Police Chief Mark Richards told the board that the department’s “Toys for Tots” program served 30 families this year. He noted that while there were fewer requests this year the donations for the program increased. A discussion was held concerning a recent accident on North Market Street involving a tractor. Chief Richards said the owner of the tractor is taking care of the cost of repairs to a light
pole. It was announced that both McCann and Lockridge have filed for re-election in the April 5 Municipal Election. Filing was to end at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 28. The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10.
WEATHER ALMANAC Day: High/Low Rain Monday 57/34 — Tuesday 48/24 .58 Wednesday 28/21 — Barton Campus Wednesday 28/18 —
republicantimes.com