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FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021
TRENTON
R-T REPUBLICAN-TIMES 75¢
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 157th Year - No. 64
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New Councilmembers Take Oath
Council Reorganizes
Four councilmembers were given the oath of office during Monday’s meeting, including two incumbents and two who are newly-elected. City Clerk Cindy Simpson gave the oath to incumbents Danny Brewer, second ward, and John Dolan, fourth ward, as well as to newly-elected councilmen Lance Otto, first ward, and Robert Romesburg, third ward. David Mlika was elected mayor pro-tem and Mayor Linda Crooks appointed councilmembers to committees, which included: Administrative - Brewer, Kevin Klinginsmith, Mlika and Romesburg; Finance - Dolan, Marvin Humphreys, Otto and Duane Urich; Economic Development - Dolan, Mlika, Otto and Urich. Liaisons to various boards were also named and include: Planning and Zoning - Mlika; Public Safety - Otto and Brewer; Tree - Klinginsmith; Airport Advisory - Urich; Domestic Violence - Romesburg; Park Board - Humphreys; Convention and Visitor’s Bureau - Dolan; Extension Council - Romesburg; Building and Nuisance - Mlika; and Animal Shelter - Romesburg.
Council Approves Amended Budget, Accepts Bids
The Trenton City Council approved an amended budget and gave the oath of office to councilmembers winning seats in the April 6 election during a meeting held Monday evening. Due to an error found in the original budget, which was approved on March 22, the council approved an amended budget. The budget shows revenues of $3,574,736 and expenditures of $4,113,135, for a deficit of $538,399. With $235,000 in operating transfers in, the deficit dips to $303,399. It is expected that the fund balance will be $2.2 million on May 1 and $1.9 million on April 30, 2022. The original budget showed income from payment in lieu of taxes at $607,000, a figure that was incorrect and is listed at $370,000 in the amended document. In addition, the council has increased the amount of revenue that will come from the sale of asphalt from $1,098,200 in the original budget to $1.3 million in
R-T Photo/Ronda Lickteig
Trenton City Clerk Cindy Simpson gives the oath of office to council members who won seats in the April 6 Election, including, from left, Lance Otto, first ward; Danny Brewer, second ward; Robert Romesburg, third ward; and John Dolan, fourth ward.
the amended budget. The total so far for this year is $1,792,497, so the new number is a more realistic figure for the amount of revenue that will likely be received. There was no discussion concerning the budget since the new figures had been extensively discussed at a special meeting held on March 30. The council certified the election results from the April 6 election, which included not only the city council election but also the passage of a city use tax. Outgoing council
members Cathie Smith, third ward, and Glen Briggs, first ward, were thanked for their service and Mrs. Smith was recognized for her work in helping to provide information to the public concerning the need for the use tax. In other business conducted prior to the swearing in of the new council (see sidebar), the council: • accepted a bid from Dustin Wilson for mowing of eight city properties. It was the lowest of five bids received. • accepted a bid from Red
Rock for asbestos removal at five properties at a cost of $7,070, which was the lowest of two bids received. • approved a $24,000 budget for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, including $20,000 for digital advertising/brand building and $4,000 for traditional advertising. It was noted that the bureau members are basing that budget on the one quarter of revenues they have received from the lodging tax but will adjust the figures if it looks as though that amount is [See CITY, Page 4]
R-9 District Mask Mandate Still In Place King, Miller Sworn In As New Board Of Education Members At Meeting
R-T Photo/Ronda Lickteig
Bill Miller and Melissa King took the oath of office from Trenton R-9 Board Secretary Susan Leeper at Tuesday’s board meeting. The two were elected from among a field of seven candidates in the April 6 election and attended their first meeting Tuesday.
Students and staff in the Trenton R-9 School District will continue to be required to wear masks - at least through the spring testing period. During Tuesday night’s meeting of the R-9 Board of Education, Superintendent Mike Stegman told the board that the administration had looked at the situation and decided that the best way to ensure a smooth spring testing period is to continue to require masks and not risk an outbreak and quarantining issues. Incoming board member Bill Miller pointed out that at a recent track meet students were with 200 to 300 other athletes, with none of them wearing masks and no one getting sick. Stegman replied that if one of those students got sick and was at school without a mask, it could result in 30 other students [See R-9 BOARD, Page 5]
Area School Boards Hold Meetings R-6, Laredo And Princeton Discuss Salaries, Personnel
The Pleasant View R-6, Laredo R-7 and Princeton R-5 boards of education met this week, reorganizing following the April 6 election, discussing salaries and approving person-
nel items. Pleasant View R-6 According to information provided by Principal Rebecca Steinhoff, Jack Bethards and Jennifer Belvel were given the oath of office after being elected in the April 6 election. Officers were elected and include Danny Wescott, president; Damien Little, vice president; Bethards, treasurer; and Brenda Allnutt, secretary. Under old business, the board heard an update on
building projects, with a bid from Troyer Roofing and Coatings accepted for replacement of the roof that houses the third, fourth and fifth grade classes at a cost of $13,478. The work is to be completed in July. In new business, the board voted to increase all non-certified wages by 50 cents an hour and all extra-duty contracts by 4 percent. The base salary for certified staff was increased by $1,000, making the
2021-22 base pay for a firstyear teacher $31,500. Mrs. Steinhoff received a 5 percent increase to her salary, which will be $67,200 for the 202122 school year. Numerous field trips were approved, including the third, fourth and fifth grade trip to Pershing State Park and the sixth, seventh and eighth grade trip to Hannibal. The dates for those trips has not yet been set. Janet Lake’s preschool hand[See BOARDS, Page 7]
BRIEFS Blood Drive April 19
The Community Blood Center will hold a blood drive from noon until 6 p.m. on Monday, April 19 at the North 65 Center, located at 2901 Hoover Dr. The drive is sponsored by RSVP, Trenton Lions Club and the North 65 Center. To book an appointment, go to savealifenow.org/group and enter code TN. Walk-ins will also be accepted. For additional information, contact Edna Foster at 660-359-3836 or grundycorsvprusinmo@gmail.com.
Police Personnel Board
The Trenton Police Personnel Board will hold a meeting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 17 at the Grundy County Law Enforcement Center. The meeting is a closed session to discuss personnel.
FFDD Walk Against Hunger
The Families and Friends of the Developmentally Disabled in Grundy County are sponsoring a “Walk Against Hunger” on Thursday, April 22 at C.F. Russell Stadium. The event will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monetary donations can be dropped off at the stadium in a participant’s backpack, with all proceeds divided equally between Bright Futures Trenton and Backpack Buddies of Grundy County. For more information, contact Kayla Graham at ffdd@grundycountymo.com or 660-654-0669.
Increases Given At Laredo
The Laredo Board of Aldermen met April 12, giving the oath of office and approving salary increases for some employees. According to information provided by City Clerk Ashley Bonnett, the oath of office was given to Brett Mathews and Derek Eckert, who were re-elected to the board in the April 6 Municipal Election. Both will serve two-year terms. Maintenance/Water and Wastewater Operator Adam Cooksey was given a $1 per hour pay increase after becoming fully certified in all departments. His new pay rate is $14.76 per hour for the part-time position. Also given a pay increase was treasurer Lena Cooksey, who will now receive $60 per month, which represents a $10 per month raise. The next regular meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 10.
City Meetings Planned
The administrative committee, economic development committee, finance committee and utility committee have all scheduled meetings Monday evening at Trenton City Hall. The meetings are open to the public but can be accessed on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83284874282. The evening will begin with the administrative committee at 6 p.m., followed by the economic development committee and the finance committee, with the only item on each agenda being election of chairman. The utility committee meeting will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. Items on that agenda include election of a chairman, department reports, a director’s update and a review of monthly financial reports.
Nursing Home Meetings
The agendas have been announced for the April meeting of the Grundy County Nursing Home District Board of Directors as well as the board’s annual meeting and the annual meeting of Senior City Incorporated. All three meetings will be held Tuesday in the conference room at Sunnyview Nursing Home, with the time for all three meetings set for 4 p.m. The agenda for the monthly meeting of the GCNHD board includes energy improvement projects, AFLAC, the administrator’s and RCF report and a closed session to discuss legal matters and personnel. The agenda for the annual meeting of that board includes appointment of directors and election of officers. The agenda for the Senior City meeting includes election of officers.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
DANVILLE BOUND...
There is a chance for showers in Trenton Friday night with an overnight low of 43. Saturday and Sunday will feature highs in the upper 50’s with lows in the 30’s. There is another slight chance of rain on Saturday. The high in Trenton on Monday was 61 with Tuesday reaching 59. Wednesday’s high was 53 with a low of 37. The high on Wednesday at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 52 with a low of 31.
The North Central Missouri College men’s basketball team received the 11 seed at next week’s NJCAA Division II National Tournament, but the Pirates aren’t letting the low seeding get to them. SPORTS, PAGE 2
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WHAT’S INSIDE
SPORTS ....................PAGE 2 & 3 OP/ED ...........................PAGE 4 CALENDAR .....................PAGE 5 AGRICULTURE ...............PAGE 6 LOCAL .............................PAGE 7 COMICS ..........................PAGE 8 CROSSWORDS ................PAGE 9 CLASSIFIEDS ................PAGE 10 AREA .............................PAGE 12