FLIP PAGES FOR WEBSITE.qxp_Layout 1 7/16/20 10:54 AM Page 1
Friday, July 17, 2020
REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON
Trenton, MO 64683
TRENTON PARK BOARD
75¢
per copy Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.
Twelve Pages & 1 Insert
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 156th Year - No. 89
GRUNDY COUNTY Commission Meets
Officers Elected For Coming Year
New Park Superintendent Named The Trenton Park Department has a new superintendent following action taken at a meeting of the city park board on Wednesday. According to board president Duane Helmandollar, David Shockley has been hired to fill the position left vacant by the resignation of long-time superintendent Jason Shuler in June. Shockley, who has served as the assistant superintendent for the past four years, will be paid $39,520 annually and will begin his duties immediately. Helmandollar said Shockley will assist with the process of hiring his assistant. In other business, Helmandollar was re-elected president of the mayor-appointed board, with Andy Cox elected vice president and Curtis Crawford being
TRENTON CITY COUNCIL
elected as secretary. John Hamilton, who was recently appointed to the board, was welcomed as was second ward councilman Marvin Humphreys, who will serve as the city council liaison to the board. Helmandollar said he appreciated the work of past board members, noting Gary Berry had served on the board multiple terms and had helped with the effort to pass the sales tax that helped fund the Trenton Family Aquatic Center. Shockley submitted a written report, noting the discus area near C.F. Russell Stadium is complete. With the aquatic center closed this summer due to COVID19 concerns, it is being painted by TFAC manager Emily Kasinger and other pool employees. The trim
Briefs...
Lien Removed From Property
Improvements To Fire Vehicle Are Approved The Trenton City Council took action on expenditures for the fire department as well as materials to extend water and sewer lines in north Trenton during a meeting on Monday night. The council approved a request from Fire Chief Brandon Gibler to spend $11,824 from the fire tax fund to install equipment on the command vehicle, which was delivered to the city in February. The work was scheduled to be done in March by Vision Upfitters in Cameron, however, a shutdown due to COVID-19 delayed that process. The original estimate for the work was $10,000, which had been included in the 2019-20 budget but was not spent and the money remains in the fire tax fund. Gibler told the council he felt the new amount was “reasonable” and noted the additional funds were available. Work includes installation of lights, a siren, a radio, a console mount, a control box, tube steps, a bed slide-out tray, a bed cover and miscellaneous items. In a related matter, the council agreed to allow City Administrator Ron Urton to make a determination regarding additional expenditures anticipated with repairs being made to Engine 10. Gibler told the council the cost for the work at this time is just over $14,000. However, it was discovered that repairs to the cab lift were also needed, which was not included in the original cost estimate but, Gibler said, needs to be done. After brief discussion regarding what those costs might be, it was decided to leave the decision up to Urton as to how much more
AREA SCHOOL BOARDS
Utilitty Commiittee To o Me eet
money would be reasonable to spend on the work. Gibler said he could not give the council an estimate as the company doing the work was unsure if parts would be available or if a retrofit would need to be done. The council voted to pay for materials associated with the extension of water and sewer lines to an area being developed for location of rental cottages in north Trenton. Kipp and Cara McClellan made the request for the funding, which was estimated at $15,602. Around 600 feet of water lines and 462 feet of sewer lines are to be built, allowing the cottages to have access to those city services. It was noted the money would most likely come from the TMU water and sewer capital project funds. The council voted to remove a lien the city has on property at 1314 Norton St., allowing Ralph Cutsinger to work with the owners to purchase the property. A $2,500 lien was placed on the property after the owners, Bret and Penny Buswell, failed to pay that amount as their share of costs to have a structure demolished. Under the arrangement with the city, Cutsinger said he would pay $500 to the city for removal of the lien so that he could move forward with purchasing the property. He told the council he wanted to make sure the property remained cleaned up. It was noted the city could still attempt to collect the remaining $2,000 owed by the Buswells. See Council, Page 12
will be blue, with the inside swim lanes painted black. Shockley reported that he has ordered a concrete base patch to repair a damaged area on a slide. In committee reports, Gary Schuett said trees and plants are being watered regularly and he has begun pruning trees at Moberly Park. Crawford told the board there have been many cancellations for facility rentals this summer, although some auctions have been held at park facilities. Helmandollar said he has met with Street Supervisor Gary Dryer to discuss the entrance to Burleigh Grimes Field and the need for some potholes to be filled in park department lots. The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
The Utility Committee of the Trenton City Council will meet at 6 o’clock tonight (Friday) at city hall. Items on the announced agenda include election of a chairman, department report, a director’s update and a review of monthly financial reports. The meeting is open to the public, but can also be viewedaat https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86396320742.
C OVID-19 U pdatte There are no new positive COVID-19 cases in Grundy County, according to the county health department. As of Thursday morning, there are two active cases being monitored by the health department. Since testing began, Grundy County has had 22 total positive cases, with one death attributed to the virus. Other area county totals as of Thursday include Sullivan, 121 (5 active); Carroll, 55 (38 active); Harrison, 34 (11 active, 1 death; Linn, 12 active, 1 death); Caldwell, 14 (1 active, 1 death); Daviess, 11 (4 active); Mercer, 8; and Putnam, 3. Livingston County cases total 26, including seven active, however, those figures do not include cases at the Chillicothe Correctional Center, which number 52 inmates and 9 staff members.
Pro opertty Ad ddress Re emind der The Trenton Police Department is reminding owners and/or occupants of local residences and businesses that they are responsible for the address numbering on their properties. The police department notes that emergency service providers cannot help someone at a specific address if the address cannot be found. Trenton City Code states street numbers are to be placed in a “prominent and conspicuous location,” and should be of a sufficient size that is legible from the street, with a four-inch minimum size. Street numbers may also be displayed in additional locations of the property at the discretion of the owner.
Princeton R-5, Laredo R-7, Tri-County R-7
Back To School Information Discussed Back to school agenda discussions and tax rate hearing dates topped agendas of recent meetings of boards of education at Princeton R-5, Laredo R-7 and Tri-County R-7. Princeton R-5 The Princeton R-5 Board of Education heard back to school information regarding response to the COVID-19 pandemic during its meeting on Monday night. According to Superintendent Jerry Girdner, the 2020-21 school year will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 25 with students attending classes in person on a five-day week schedule. District administrators will be meeting with Mercer County Health Department officials in late July to finalize details of the plan, which is designed to be a quick reference for students, parents, teachers and patrons. Girdner said the district will continue to monitor the situation and plan for a safe re-entry for all involved. “Although the plan will guide the district’s efforts in response to the pan-
demic, it is important to note the Princeton R-5 schools cannot prevent the possible transmission or contraction of COVID-19 for any individual,” Girdner said. The board approved product bids for the 2020-21 school year, including Bimbo Bakeries for bread items, Anderson Erickson for milk items and MFA Oil of Princeton for fuel. Approval was also given to the student and staff handbooks. The board set the annual tax rate hearing for 5:15 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, prior to the regular board meeting. Following an executive session, the board approved the employment of Ashlie Powell as elementary/high school librarian for the next school year. Laredo R-7 Approval was given to several items during a meeting of the Laredo R-7 Board of Education on Monday night. Administrator Misty Foster reported approval was given to the student/faculty handbook as well as the emergency
following the recommendation from the USDA. The 2020-21 meal prices are $1 for breakfast and $1.95 for lunch, grades kindergarten through four; $1.25 for breakfast and $2.20 for lunch, grades five through 12; and $1.75 for breakfast and $2.50 for lunch, adults. Reduced student meal prices are 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. Approval was given to bids from Graves Foods for bread, Hiland Dairy for milk products and Landes Oil and MFA for fuel. The board approved the employee and student handbooks for next year and voted to request bids for a $150,000 certificate of deposit that matures in August. There was discussion regarding the 2020-21 budget, with no action taken. The board set the annual tax rate hearing for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20. The next meeting of the board will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6 in the superintendent’s office at the school in Jamesport.
What’s Inside...
National Weather Service
Mostly sunny on Saturday & Sunday with highs of 94 and lows in the mid 70s. Rain is likely on Sunday night, lingering into the first part of the week. The high at Trenton on Monday, July 13 was 91 and Tuesday’s high was 93. Wednesday’s high was 81 with a low of 68 and 2.31 inches of rain recorded. There was no report from the Government Weather Station near Spickard.
management plan for the 2020-21 school year. The district will continue its agreement with Pleasant View R-6 School for early childhood special education services through next year. Mrs. Foster told the board Jamesport Roofing will be making repairs to the school roof, with the district paying the $1,000 building insurance deductible. The board set the tax rate hearing for 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10. The regular monthly board meeting will follow. Reports were also given regarding the budget, summer maintenance projects and the school audit, to be conducted on July 21. Following an executive session, the board accepted the resignation of Sue Cooksey as head cook. Tri-County R-7 The Tri-County R-7 Board of Education approved an increase in meal prices during its meeting on Thursday, July 9. According to information provided by Superintendent David Probasco, meal prices were increased by 10 cents
The basketball programs at North Central Missouri College will see some changes in their 2020-21 game calendars following action taken by the NJCAA. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for information regarding the sports season.
Trenton Republican-Times “News Every Day...When YOU Want It”
HOT & STEAMY
www.republican-times.com
April Brush Control Vote Set Voters in Grundy County will be asked to approve a measure that would allow the county to enforce brush control following action taken at Tuesday’s meeting of the Grundy County Commission. According to information provided by Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray, the commission voted to place the issue on the April 2021 ballot. If approved, the measure would allow the county to enforce brush control adjacent to county roads. The issue would need a simple majority to pass and would allow the county to set procedures for the brush removal. After meeting with Nikki Moyer of Howe Company, the commission accepted a bid from Decker Construction of Lathrop for replacement of a bridge on SW 80th St. The bid, which was the lowest received, was for $520,897.05. The project had been estimated at $492,806 and had a high bid of $614,803.76. In other action items, the commission voted to set the county payroll date on or before the last working day of each month. It was announced the Road and Bridge crew will be completing work on a drainage correction project on NW 50th Street near Brimson. Emergency Management Director Glen Briggs reported that three FEMA disaster sites are 100 percent complete, with funding available upon final approval. He said Emergency Management Performance Grant funds in the amount of $630 are expected to be released by the state for use in the county. He also reported the Missouri Emergency Response Commission was to meet on Thursday, July 16 with funds for Community Emergency Preparedness being released to the county within the next 30 days. Those funds, which are expected to total $2,600, are primarily used for hazardous materials training and Local Emergency Planning Committee meetings. It was noted there are two active cases of COVID-19 in Grundy County and staff with the Grundy County Health Department are meeting with county school officials and event organizers in an effort to promote safety. The commission will be meeting as part of the Grundy County Board of Equalization on Monday, July 20. There are currently no appointments for the board, which will open the meeting at 8:30 a.m. The next regular commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, with a road and bridge upSee County, Page 12
What’s Inside
Sports .....................page 2 & 3 NASCAR .......................page 2 Opinion/Editorial .........page 4 Community ...................page 5 Tax Sale .........................page 6 National News ...............page 7 Agriculture....................page 8 Comics ...........................page 9 Crosswords..................page 10