R-Times 8-17-18

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REPUBLICAN-TIMES

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TRENTON

Trenton, MO 64683

Friday, August 17, 2018

Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 154th Year - No. 210

Levy Options Are Discussed

TRENTON R-9 BOARD OF EDUCATION

The possibility of future new construction projects in the Trenton R-9 School District without having to increase the district tax levy was mentioned during Tuesday night’s public hearing on the proposed 2018 tax levy. The hearing was held prior to the regular board of education meeting, with board members officially setting the levy at $4.145 on the $100 assessed valuation. The rate is just over four cents higher than last year due to a decrease in the district’s assessed valuation and would generate approximately $3,336,657. Of the total levy amount, $3.245 will be for the incidental fund while 90 cents will go to the debt service for payment of bonds associated with construction of the current middle school as well as additions to the elementary/high school facilities. The 90-cent debt service amount has been the same since 2000, when the new middle school was built. Dan Superintendent

2018 Tax Rate Set

Wiebers said the district will finish paying off the middle school costs in 2020 and that one of the goals of the district Comprehensive School Im-

provement Program Committee has been to look at other needed construction projects once the middle school was paid for. He said that if voters

were to agree to leave the debt service levy at 90 cents, approximately $6 to $7 million See R-9, Page 3

Trenton Woman Leads Staff

There’s a new face at the North 65 Center with the hiring of a new administrator. Karen Otto of rural Trenton began her duties at the local senior citizen center on Monday, Aug. 13. She brings a variety of experience from the medical profession, banking and as a school bookkeeper to the position. She sees the senior center as a benefit to both those who use the center and those who volunteer. “I think it’s a great benefit to our senior community,” she said. “They can come in and get a meal or we deliver to them. It’s also a benefit for people who volunteer with our seniors and we have a lot of volunteers. There are a lot of activities here right now we have an exercise class going on and there are two tables of women playing bridge. It’s definitely a social opportunity for a lot of people and that’s im-

portant.” Mrs. Otto, a Newtown native, said the center is not just for senior citizens, with those of all ages encouraged to eat lunch there, participate in the activities or volunteer. “That’s a good way to integrate age groups in the community,” she explained. Mrs. Otto and her husband, Bill, are the parents of three sons, Tyson, Lance and Jeremy and have 10 grandchildren. She noted that all of her daughters-in-law are educators, either as teachers or administrators. Before moving to rural Trenton, the couple lived in Newtown, where she served three terms on the city council and was the secretary/treasurer of the fire district board when it was first established.

Twelve Pages & 11 Insert

R-5, T-C Enrollments Down

Classes began Thursday in the Grundy R-5 and TriCounty R-7 school districts, with both districts reporting decreases in enrollment over last year. At Grundy R-5, enrollment was down 11 students, from 133 on the first day last year to 122 on the first day this year. There are 59 students enrolled in grades kindergarten through six at the elementary building in Humphreys, down from 71 last year, and 63 students enrolled in grades seven through 12 at the high school building in Galt, up one student from last year. Enrollment, by grade, is kindergarten, 8; first, 9; second, 12; third, 8; fourth, 6; fifth, 11; sixth, 5; seventh, 14; eighth, 4; freshmen, 6; sophomores, 16; juniors, 10; and seniors, 13. At Tri-County at Jamesport, there were 161 students enrolled, down from 168 reported on the first day last year. In addition, there are 13 students in the three-year-old preschool class and nine students in the four-year class. Enrollment, by grade, is kindergarten, 14; first, 10; second, 5; third, 13; fourth, 9; fifth, 17; sixth, 16; seventh, 9; eighth, 12; freshmen, 18; sophomores, 15; juniors, 12; and seniors, 11.

See North 65, Page 3

Karen Otto

2018 Tax Rate Set

made to address effluent disinfection issues and meet effluent requirements of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, with funding for that work coming through loans obtained from certificates of participation along with funds from rate increases approved by the council three years ago. At that time, the council approved a rate schedule that included increases of 30 percent in the first two years and 26 percent in year three. The year three rate hike was delayed until Trenton Municipal Utilities had time to evaluate water usage by the Nestle plant, which recently assumed operations of the facility previously operated by ConAgra. City Administrator Ron Urton told the council the city could see some cost savings by

National Weather Service

Mostly sunny skies this weekend with a slight chance of Sunday showers. Highs generally in the mid to upper 80s and lows in the mid 60s. The high on Monday at Trenton was 96, Tuesday’s high was 75 and Wednesday’s high was 88 and the low was 68. A total of 2.1 inches of rain fell this week. There was no report from the Government Weather Station near Spickard.

A portion of Mable Street will be closed on Saturday, Aug. 18 to allow students to move into residence halls at North Central Missouri College. Mable Street will be closed from 13th Street to Crowder Road, beginning at 8 a.m. and will be closed until midnight. Day and evening activities are also planned for the students during that time on the lawn and street between the residence halls and the Ketcham Community Center. Fall semester classes at NCMC get under way on Monday, Aug. 20.

Police Personnel Board

The Police Personnel Board will hold a meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 20 at city hall. The meeting will be an executive session, closed to the public and news media, and involves personnel. The deadline for submission of applications for the vacant police chief’s position are due to the city by Friday, Aug. 17.

Princeton R-5 Board Meeting

The Princeton R-5 Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 20 at the high school library. A tax levy hearing will be held a 5:15 p.m., followed by the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Items on the meeting agenda include a request from the senior class for an open lunch hour, a naming opportunity for the new track, adoption of the conflict of interest ordinance and administrative reports. An executive session for personnel, legal matters and real estate is also planned.

County Levy Hearing

Headworks Project Approved

TRENTON CITY COUNCIL

Additional improvements to the city’s sewer system are moving forward after members of the Trenton City Council on Monday agreed to go ahead with the headworks portion of a project currently under way to meet state requirements regarding effluent disinfection. On a vote of 7-0, with Travis Elbert absent, the council authorized Burns and McDonnell engineering firm to prepare a proposal that would outline fixed costs for the work and include a rate study that would also outline how the city would pay for the headworks. The cost for the engineering work would be $240,000, which would be rolled into the final project cost. Improvements to the city’s sewer plant are currently being

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Mable Street Closing

Karen Otto Is New Administrator

NORTH 65 CENTER

Briefs...

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adding the headworks project to the current work at the sewer project as the project contractor would already be on site. A preliminary engineering report from Burns and McDonnell estimates the headworks project cost to be $1.5 million. Burns and McDonnell, in a memorandum to the city council, said that the existing headworks at the plant has failed, with the screenings being out of service and that the grit chamber is leaning due to the settlement of the structure. Material and debris is clogging pumps and mixers downstream, resulting in failure of processing equipment. The material and debris is making its way into the sludge which is land-applied and could put the city at risk, the memo stated.

Burns and McDonnell suggested the city construct a structure for new screens and a grit removal channel with deep foundations. By doing this, Burns and McDonnell said the city would be positioned in the long term to maintain equipment more easily and safer, “complete departure from a failing existing headworks structure” and have “long-term protection of downstream equipment from debris and protection of land application fields from undesireable material in the sludge.” As part of the work, Burns and McDonnell is also recommending the city update its rate model in determining the financial impact to the city due to the project. The update, en-

See Council, Page 3

On The Road...

The Grundy County Commission will hold its annual tax rate hearing at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21 in the commission room, located on the second floor of the courthouse. The proposed levy is .2374 cents on the $100 assessed valuation, which is up from .1846 cents last year. The tax rate ceiling is .3823 cents, with .2374 being the maximum rate after the sales tax rollback. Grundy County Clerk Betty Spickard said the reason for the increase from last year is that an error was made last year, with the increase in assessed valuation not included in the tables used to determine the maximum levy. That error resulted in more than $40,000 not being collected last year. The actual valuation for 2017 should have been $131,637,140 and a figure of $119,837,998 was actually used. This year’s assessed valuation is up slightly to $132,390,269. The levy is expected to generate $390,283. In addition to the hearing, the commission plans to meet with Ambulance Director Steve Tracy on Tuesday morning.

GCNHD Board Meeting

The Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors will hold its regular monthly meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21 in the conference room of the Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments. Items on the agenda include a tax levy hearing, adoption of the conflict of interest resolution, roof top unit and flat roof bids, discussion of energy improvement projects and financing and the administrator and RCF reports. An executive session for personnel and legal matters is also planned.

Heroes Vs. Celebrities

Rosters are being finalized for the 11th annual Heroes vs. Celebrities softball game, being played this year on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Griffin Field. Persons interested in being a celebrity participant for one of the two games being played that evening are asked to contact Brenda Thorne at 654-0218 or Judie Leininger at 359-5123. Opening ceremonies are slated for 6 p.m., with the two games to follow. There will also be a concession stand available, which opens at 5:30 p.m. A fundraising auction is also planned.

Classes start on Tuesday, Aug. 21 in the Trenton R-9 School District. Apple Bus Company has released its morning pickup times for students. The list appears on page 7 of today’s Republican-Times.

MOSTLY SUNNY

Trenton Republican-Times

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What’s Inside

Sports ..............................page 2 Local News .....................page 3 Opinion/Editorial ............page 4 Community .....................page 5 Agriculture......................page 6 Area Menus ....................page 7 Comics ............................page 8 Crosswords .....................page 9 Church Page..................page 11


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