FLIP PAGES FOR WEBSITE.qxp_Trenton Republican-Times 9/23/21 11:02 AM Page 1
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
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Balancing Act BY RONDA LICKTEIG R-T EDITOR
M
ost motorsports have one thing in common: speed! But last weekend a group was in the area that puts skill and agility above how fast they can make it through the course. The Mid-America Trials Team held its annual Quarry Cup Sept. 18-19 on privately-owned land west of Trenton. To the untrained spectator, the idea of motorcycles without seats seems a little oddespecially when the riders are going over rocks and tree limbs and up and down steep embankments. But spectators quickly realize that there’s really no need for a seat because the riders don’t need to sit down. The riders, who ranged in age from single digits to 83, don’t have a chance to sit down. They are using their legs and the rest of their bodies to balance their bikes in order to do something we normally associate with golf - get the lowest score possible. One of the riders, Steve Morgan of Independence, is a MATT member who has been riding [See MATT, Page 5]
City Being Sued By Company That Built 17th Street Bridge Boone Construction Alleges Breach Of Contract And More
Photo Courtesy of Lisa Robertson
Skill and agility were on display at the annual Quarry Cup, held last weekend west of Trenton. Riders don’t worry about their speed, but are working hard to ensure their feet don’t touch the ground or their tires don’t cross the course boundary.
The company that constructed the 17th Street Bridge has filed a lawsuit against the City of Trenton, alleging that the city has not only failed to pay it for the construction, but also failed to address geological concerns along the way leading to a delay of the completed project. Boone Construction of Columbia filed the suit on Monday in the Circuit Division of Grundy County Court, alleging breach of contract, breach of warranty, unjust enrichment and seeking to be paid for work that was done outside the scope of the contract. In addition, the company is seeking damages and costs pursuant to the Missouri Public Prompt Payment Act. Boone alleges in the suit that the firm hired by the city to perform the engineering work on the bridge, Olsson Engineering, failed to uncover what appears to be a rock wall in the area where the major structural supports (bents) for the new bridge were to be placed. Olsson had hired a geotechnical firm, TSi Geotech-
Funding Secured For Bank Project Stabilization Bid To Be Awarded Next Week It looks like the funding for the Thompson River Bridge Stabilization project has been secured through a partnership of private and public entities, with the bid for the project expected to be awarded next week. Jackie Soptic and Chris Hoffman, representing the Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation, met with the commission to discuss the project and the funding that has so far been secured. They told the commission that they had been under the impression that the Missouri Depart-
ment of Transportation was funding $60,000 of the cost, which received a low bid of $616,944 when bids were opened in August. That number, they learned is actually $120,980. The commission said they thought $60,000 of that amount had been “pulled back” to help with the issue under the bridge. Mrs. Soptic also told the commission that the Natural Resource Conservation Service, which had already committed $313,815 toward the project, has verbally committed an additional $121,027. The funding will not be formally committed until the new federal fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. That [See RIVER, Page 5]
Position Moving To Full Time The Grundy County Commission announced Tuesday that the position of ambulance director will become a full-time post, rather than part time, with the current director invited to submit an application along with others. Grundy County Presiding Commissioner Phil Ray said applications will be accepted from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, with a starting date of just after the first of the new year. Current Ambulance Director Steve Tracy was invited to submit his application, but, if selected, he would no longer be working as a paramedic for the service except in very rare instances. Ray said when the parttime position was created in 1992, the number of calls received by the service was about 25 percent of the current volume. Ray said that means the volume of work for both the director and the EMS crew has increased to a level where neither position can receive its diligence if one person is attempting to do both. Ray said a salary has not been decided, but the county will be attempting to be competitive with other ambulance departments with similar call volume and personnel. In the 2021 budget, a total of $14,100 was approved for the director, which was in addition to Tracy’s fulltime position as a paramedic.
nical, Inc., to perform the geotechnical work to determine the nature of the subsurface materials at the project site. Olsson then determined the location for the bents, including the foundation. The suit alleges that the engineer did not direct TSi to take any borings in the exact locations the engineer had chosen for the bents and the temporary shoring that would be needed. When Boone visited the site prior to submitting a bid, the rock wall was not visible and was not included in the engineer’s infor[See LAWSUIT, Page 5]
BRIEFS Vaccine Clinic At NCMC
In partnership with the Grundy County Health Department, North Central Missouri College will have the Moderna COVID19 vaccine available on its campus at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton on Monday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. All students, faculty, staff and the public are invited. To make an appointment, contact the Grundy County Health Department at 660-359-4196 or visit https://grundychd.as. me/schedule.php. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are encouraged. Those getting the vaccination should wear short sleeves and bring an insurance card, if available. Those who do not have insurance can still receive the vaccine at no cost. For more information, contact the Grundy County Health Department at 660-359-4196.
What’s Happening This Weekend? Friday and Saturday
R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
ASHCROFT VISITS LIBRARY
Trenton City-Wide Garage Sales, ALL OVER TOWN!
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, right, made a visit to Trenton Wednesday afternoon, where he and Second District State Rep. J. Eggleston, left, toured the Grundy County-Jewett Norris Library. Pictured providing information on the historical building is GC-JN Library Administrator Theresa Hunsaker.
Nan Carter Classic, Ebbe Sports Complex, with games beginning at 9 a.m.
Fagan Appointed To Board Spickard Accepts Partial Roof Bid, Makes Custodian Full-Time A new board member has been appointed to serve on the Spickard R-2 Board of Education. According to Superintendent Erica Eakes, the board met Monday and voted to appoint Paula Fagan to fill a vacancy on the board. She replaces Alexis Sturgeon, who had filled the seat left vacant by the death of Jesse Richmond. Ms. Fagan will be given the oath of office at the October meeting. In other action items, the board agreed to accept bids for a new roof on the cafeteria section of the school and voted to make the custodian position full-time rather than part-time. Board
members adopted the 2021-22 Professional Development Plan but tabled the adoption of the 2021-22 Crisis Response Plan until the October meeting when they will also consider repairs to the boiler. Mrs. Eakes gave an enrollment report, which indicates there are 28 students enrolled, including seven kindergarten students; six students in the first/second grade; seven in the third/fourth grade; and eight in the fifth/sixth grade. A total of 22 students who reside in the Spickard district are attending classes in seventh through 12th grade at Princeton and Trenton. Bentley Holland, a third grade student, was recognized as the Top Pirate for September and it was announced that Shelly Porter will serve as the director for the after school program, [See SPICKARD, Page 5]
Saturday
Grannies vs. Pastors Basketball Game, Ketcham Community Center, 2 p.m. Leadership Northwest Music Jam, Black Silo Winery, 8 p.m.
WEATHER ALMANAC Day:
High/Low Rain
Monday 87/63 Tuesday 73/56 Wednesday 72/49
.58 — —
Barton Campus Wednesday 71/47 —