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Friday, November 20, 2020
REPUBLICAN-TIMES TRENTON
Trenton, MO 64683
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 157th Year - No. 23
TPD Pay Raises, Use Tax Are Discussed In Committee Meetings The Trenton City Council will have several items to consider-including placing a use tax on the April ballot and salary increases for the police department-following meetings of the Economic Development, Finance and Utility committees held this week. Economic Development The Trenton Economic Development Committee voted to recommend to the city council that a use tax be placed on the April ballot. According to City Administrator Ron Urton, the committee voted 4-0 to send the issue to the full council. The tax would mainly affect the online purchase of items
and would allow the city to collect sales tax on those purchases. It will take a majority vote of the full council to determine if the issue is to be placed on ballot. Finance Committee The Finance Committee voted Tuesday evening to recommend a raise for officers and dispatchers at the Trenton Police Department, something that would be made easier if a use tax is placed on the April ballot and is approved by voters. After a lengthy discussion concerning the fact that the base pay for Trenton officers still lags a minimum of $2,000 behind area departments, the committee voted unanimously to recommend the council
immediately increase the pay for officers by $3 per hour and $1 per hour for dispatchers. In addition, it will be recommended that Chief Rex Ross and Lt. Larry Smith be paid overtime for any hours above 45 in a week when performing patrolling duties. Chief Ross said that with one current officer leaving to take a position in Cameron and another officer retiring in December, the force will be at half staff. Officers received an increase last year that brought them into line with Chillicothe, a department where several of See Council, Page 3
NCMC TREE LIGHTING
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Briefs... C oon C reek Than nksgiviing Union (Coon Creek) Baptist Church’s Annual Thanksgiving meal will be held Thanksgiving Day, with some changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The church will once again deliver free meals to those who are unable to prepare their own Thanksgiving dinner. There will not be inside meals this year, but a meal can be reserved for pickup at the church that day. Pickups will begin after 10:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. To order meals or reserve a pickup time, persons can call Dianna Crawford at 359-3094 or 635-0760 and leave a message. Calls will be returned to those who leave a message. The deadline to reserve a meal is Tuesday, Nov. 24.
Pla ay Iss Postpo oned The Trenton High School Drama Club’s presentation of “Hallmark of Horror” that was scheduled to be performed on Friday has been postponed. Play Director Tash Dowell said information on the rescheduled date will be announced as soon as possible.
Offiice es Closed Fo or Mo ove The Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce and Trenton License Office will be closed November 23-27 to allow the offices to be moved to their new location at 1846 E. Ninth St. in Eastgate Shopping Center as well as observing Thanksgiving. The offices will re-open at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 30 at the new location.
Pet Liicenses Ava ailablle Trenton residents can now purchase their 2021 Trenton city pet licenses. The licenses are $5 each and can be purchased at city hall. Animal owners need to provide proof of rabies vaccination in order to purchase a license.
GRVC CO Announc ceme ent The Grand River Valley Choir and Orchestra Board of Directors has voted to cancel the virtual recital previously scheduled for Dec. 12 because of concerns for everyone’s health and safety. As a gift to the community, it was decided instead to provide an encore presentation of its 2019 10th Season Celebration Winter Concert. The program will be available on YouTube starting Dec. 12 for four to six weeks. A link to this YouTube performance will be on the GRVCO.com website as well as their Facebook page. Linda Arnold is conductor of the GRV Choir and Buddy Hannaford is the GRV Orchestra conductor. Submitted Photos
North Central Misouri College held its second annual tree lighting recently in front of Geyer Hall. Students, faculty and staff launched the holiday season with a welcome from NCMC President Dr. Lenny Klaver and Student Senate President Jacquelyn Perez. Pictures with the pirate, hot cocoa, holiday music and the official tree lighting countdown were all held. Liam Oaks, above, was randomly selected from elementary age children of NCMC employees to flip the switch, lighting the tree. He is a third grade student at Newtown-Harris R-2 School and is the son of NCMC Regstrator/Director of Records and Enrollment Joni Oaks and her husband, Seth. The lights will come on each evening at dusk and can be viewed virtually at https://piratesdigitalmedia.com.
LOCAL NEWS
Event Falls Victim To COVID-19
Holiday Hoops Cancelled For 2020
The COVID-19 Pandemic has claimed another victim as the 2020 Edition of the North Central Missouri College Holiday Hoops has been cancelled. At a special meeting of the Holiday Hoops Steering Committee held Tuesday, night, it was decided to cancel this year’s event, scheduled for December. Event Director Steve Maxey said that due to the increasing number of COVID cases in Grundy and surrounding counties, coupled with the many counties in both Missouri and Iowa where participating high schools would be coming from, the committee felt there was no other decision to make but to cancel. Although disappointed for
student athletes, coaches and fans, committee members felt that there would be no way to guarantee a safe environment for the number of attendees converging on the NCMC campus over a nine-day period. A total of 55 high schools from Missouri and Iowa represented by over 100 teams were scheduled to be in Trenton for the 16th annual event and due to the large number of schools and student/athletes involved, officials felt the decision to cancel was the right decision for the safety of all involved. Maxey said that while the steering committee is deeply sorry, however plans are already in the works for the 2021 event.
COUNTY COMMISSION
NC CMC Bo oard Agenda The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees will meet in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24 in the lower level of the Alexander Student Center. Items on the announced agenda include administrative reports, a Head Start vehicle purchase, personnel items including a retirement, employments, updated job descriptions, a recommendation for emeritus status, Head Start personnel and a Workforce Development Board job update. An executive session is scheduled to discuss personnel, legal matters and real estate.
FEMA Requests Independent Estimate
Berry Bridge Project At Forefront The Grundy County Commission discussed the cost of the Berry Bridge project during its meeting on Tuesday, when they also heard an insurance proposal, reviewed a memorandum of understanding and approved funding from the Coronavirus Relief Act. FEMA has requested an engineering estimate on the Berry Bridge project located in Meyers Township. Shannon Howe with Howe Co. has submitted a report on the repair of flood damage. The estimate totaled $228,000 and FEMA officials have expressed a concern that the estimate is much higher than FEMA estimates. An estimate from a second independent engineering firm will also be submitted to FEMA. Four firms submitted proposals for 911 radio design. The proposals submitted included Tusa $27,000; Trott, $59,380; Mazzitello Professional Services MPS LLC, $44,000; and Command 1 LLC $4410. The Command 1 LLC proposal
National Weather Service
does not include as much work as the other proposals.. The proposals were tabled to provide time for research and to examine each individual proposal. The third quarter reimbursement from the Missouri Emergency Management Agency was $315. These monies are primarily utilized for salary reimbursement for emergency management. John Hickman from HIC Insurance reviewed the health insurance plan for 2020 and issued a statement of savings totaling $144,382.99. This savings is a result of allocation of funds versus funds utilized for health insurance services. Ray said 2021 will be a “level renewal” which equates to a no premium increase for health insurance provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City and Freedom Claims Network. Exploration of added benefits are currently being explored while retaining a no cost increase for employer or employees. Insurance options for employees over the age of 65 were presented to the com-
mission Information will be made available for employees that have an interest in pursuing “over 65” benefits through the county. Grundy County Health Department Administrator Elizabeth Gibson discussed the reporting process involved with testing results, as well as DHSS/DESE guidance released last week by the State of Missouri. The commission, along with Ms. Gibson, reviewed the Local Public Health Agency memorandum of understanding. This agreement would allow 15% of the total county CRF allocation as well as place the liability of the funding allocation on the LPHA. Gibson presented information to the commission expressing a need for funds exceeding the 15% mark due to the elevated costs related to COVID-19. No action was taken on the MOU. The commission approved Coronavirus Relief Act funding allocations for Laredo See Grundy, Page 3
What’s Inside...
We’ll have a chance of rain every day through Sunday with high temperatures hovering in the mid-50s and lows dipping as low as 27. The high temperature at Trenton on Monday, Nov. 16 was 61 and Tuesday’s high was 50. Wednesday’s high was 67, the low was 37. The high Wednesday at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 66, the low was 42.
The high school and middle school winter sports seasons are under way and R-T Sports Editor Seth Herrold has put together a preview of Trenton High School, Trenton Middle Scool and surrounding teams in an insert in today’s R-T.
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What’s Inside
Sports.............................page 2 Local News ....................page 3 Opinion/Editorial .........page 4 Community ...................page 5 Agriculture....................page 6 Comics ...........................page 7 Dear Annie ....................page 8 Crosswords....................page 8 Area News ..................page 12