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REPUBLICAN-TIMES
Friday, January 31, 2020
TRENTON
Trenton, MO 64683
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 156th Year - No. 44
GRUNDY COUNTY BUDGET
Fourteen Pages & 1 Insert NCMC BOARD Personnel Addressed
Commissioners Give Approval
Year-End Deficit Possible In 2020 It’s difficult to predict what’s going to happen in a year’s time and that is basically what the Grundy County Commission is asked to do each year as they develop a new budget. As has been the case in the past several years, 2019 brought with it more revenue than expected and less expenditures than had been anticipated, leaving the commission with a surplus with which to work. However, the figures in the 2020 budget, approved on Tuesday morning by the commission, make it clear that this could be the year that a year-end deficit might become a reality. The commissioners, who unanimously approved this year’s budget after having a split vote last year (First District Commissioner Don Sager voted no), seemed optimistic that the end result will be better than expected. Second District Commission-er Joe Brinser commended the county’s elected officials and department heads for their conservative spending and Sager said that while there are things he would love to see done in the county that would make it better, the lack of money puts a limit on what can be done. Presiding Commissioner Phil Ray said the budget includes the full cost of projects and purchases even though it’s possible, and in some cases likely, that there will be reimbursements, grants and cost-sharing available. How 2019 Ended The 2019 budget projected a deficit of $502,419, with total revenues of $4,693,199 added to a carryover of $3,316,495.48 for total funds available of $8,009,694.48. Expenditures were budgeted at $5,195,618 for an estimated ending balance of $2,814,076.48. As it turns out, revenue came in around $325,000 more than expected, including
USDA
around $300,000 more than budgeted just from the ambulance department. On the expense side, budgeted bridges were not able to be constructed due to FEMA projects that had to be done and weather-related delays, officeholders were conservative in their spending, discretionary spending was kept to a minimum and the emergency fund was not used. In addition, the county’s new telephone system resulted in savings on phone bills for all county departments except the 911 system, which is still an AT&T system. The result was total revenues of $5,018,619.79, expenditures of $4,581,253.14 and a carryover for 2020 of $3,752,714.62, over $900,000 more than had been projected. That is the good news. Predicting 2020 The bad news is that an even greater deficit than had been predicted in 2019 is facing the commission in 2020. There are a number of factors driving what is predicted to be an $868,717 budget deficit for 2020, with revenues budgeted at $5,447,580 and expenditures expected to be about $6,316,297. When looking at expenses, the commission points to a $35,000 increase in worker’s compensation as well as a 30 percent increase in the cost for employee health insurance of which the county pays 75 percent of the premium (keeping last year’s plan would have resulted in a 46 percent increase). A new ambulance along with new 911 equipment are budgeted as are road and bridge vehicles, new computers and a new server for the courthouse, something made necessary due to Microsoft no longer supporting the current system. Funding for five elections is included, with the hopes of only having to hold four of those. Employees, who received a 25-cent per hour pay raise last
year, will not see an increase this year. BREAKING IT DOWN BY FUND General Revenue Carryover: $1,024,812.31 Revenue: $1,295,325 Total: $2,320,137.31 Expenditures: $1,770,845 Balance: $549,292.31 The General Revenue Fund covers a lot of what it takes to run the county, including salaries and fringe benefits for county employees and officeholders. It also includes the cost of operating the buildings, including the courthouse, and a $50,000 budgeted line item for an emergency fund. Among the revenues are property taxes ($261,400) and sales tax, which is budgeted at $450,000 after bringing in $473,887.51 last year. A decrease is expected due to the loss of ShopKo. Intergovernmental revenues are listed at $40,100 and charges for services total $358,400. The General Revenue Fund also receives $24,000 from the Road and Bridge Fund and the same amount from the Ambulance Fund for administrative services. Expenses, in addition to those already mentioned, include $45,000 for the North Central Missouri Development Alliance for economic development efforts and $17,500 for University of Missouri Extension. That amount is $2,500 less than last year and $6,500 less than the amount requested for the extension program. Commissioners have said in the past they planned to reduce the amount of Extension funding by $2,500 per year until it gets to the $10,000 that the county is ordered by state statute to pay. A $150,000 See Budget, Page 9
Mid-States Providing Local Service
Rural Broadband Expansion Set Grundy County will be among rural areas in Missouri that will benefit from $60.9 million in federal funds being made available to expand broadband internet service. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that $60.9 million will fund five projects in rural Missouri to create or improve e-connectivity through the USDA’s “ReConnect Pilot Program.” One of those projects will involve Mid-States Services, LLC of Trenton, which plans to use a $3 million low interest loan to provide unserved and underserved residents in and
around Trenton with fiber-tothe-home broadband services. The project will bring broadband to 566 households, two schools and several businesses in an area that includes those in the Trenton telephone exchange outside of the city limits. USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development DJ LaVoy made the announcement during a program held at the NCMC Barton Ag Campus. Also on hand were Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and Jeff Case, state director for the USDA Rural Development See Broadband, Page 9
R-T Photo/Diane Lowrey
Gov. Mike Parsons, left, was in Trenton on Tuesday for the announcement of federal funding to expand broadband in rural Missouri. Mid-States Services LLC will be doing one of the five projects being funded through the USDA Rural Development "ReConnect Pilot Program.” Also pictured are USDA Rural Development State Director Jeff Case, center, and USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development DJ LaVoy, right.
CITY COUNCIL Net Metering Review
Force Main Project Gets OK The Trenton City Council approved moving forward with repairs to the sewer system force main under Muddy Creek during a meeting on Monday night. On a 7-0 vote, with John Dolan absent, the council agreed to have Howe and Company engineers proceed with design plans for the work to repair damage that occurred during recent flooding in that See Council, Page 9
R-T Photo/Diane Lowrey
Seniors McKayla Blackburn and Jaren Whitney were named the 2020 THS courtwarming queen and king during activities on Monday night, Jan. 27. Pictured are, from left, freshman attendants Kelsey Gibler and Brody Polk, senior attendants Libby Fewins and Noah Lewis, Miss Blackburn, Whitney, senior attendants Lexi Whitaker and Mark Trump and sophomore attendants Hannah Bowe and Caleb Johnson. Not pictured are junior attendants Gavin Roeder and Emily Owens. The crownbearer was Charlie Orndorff and the flower girl was Claire Ormsby, pictured in front.
National Weather Service There‘s a big warmup on the way with skies clearing and highs climbing to as high as 51 on Sunday. Lows will be in the low 30s. The high at Trenton on Monday, Jan. 27 was 37, Tuesday’s high was 32 and Wednesday’s high was 31. The low on Wednesday night was 24 with .10 of an inch of snow recorded. The high on Wednesday at the Government Weather Station near Spickard was 28, the low was 21.
What’s Inside... The THS boys and girls basketball teams are in the Hamilton Tournament this week, with both squads picking up wins. See page 2 of today’s Republican-Times for a tournament recap, along with results from Monday’s games with Milan.
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Klaver Contract Extended North Central Missouri College trustees voted to extend the contract of the college president and named an interim golf coach during the board’s monthly meeting held on Tuesday. With a unanimous vote following an executive session, the board voted to extend the contract of college president Dr. Lenny Klaver by one year, making it effective through June 30, 2024. Dr. Klaver’s salary will be set at a later time as part of the budget process. Trustees named Nate Gamet as the interim men’s golf coach. Gamet, who serves as the director of the Ketcham Community Center, will be paid $1,875 for the period of Jan. 13 through June 30. Gamet is taking on the role due to the resignation of Craig Sager. In other personnel matters, the board accepted the retirement of Gary Boyle, custodian, effective Feb. 28 and the resignation of Deanna Scroggie as nursing instructor, effective at the completion of her current contract on June 30. Jessica Standiford of Princeton was hired as an adjunct instructor to teach massage therapy courses beginning this semester and Megan Ruffier was hired as the cook for the Brookfield “A” Head Start Center, a program that is administered through NCMC. She has begun her duties there. Several students in the agriculture program and their advisors, Rustin Jumps and Jack Green, gave a presentation on the ag program, which currently has 96 students enrolled, including providing information on the livestock judging program that will be starting next fall and the new agriculture operations technology certificate. NCMC will be the only community college in Missouri to offer a livestock judging team to students and it is hoped that it will not only provide an opportunity for students to further improve their livestock evaluation skills but will also attract new students to NCMC. The ag operations technology certificate, which is endorsed by MFA Incorporated, will allow students to earn a one-year certificate and the opportunity for an apprenticeship and full-time employment with MFA Incorporated. It was also announced the NCMC Ag Club Contests will be held on campus March 19. In other business, the board: • approved revised job descriptions for the marketing specialist position and the sports information and marketing coordinator/assistant coach position, as well as for the associate director of admissions, a position at the See NCMC, Page 9
What’s Inside Sports .....................page 2 & 3 Op/Ed ............................page 4 Community ...................page 5 Agriculture....................page 6 Local News.................page 7-9 Comics .........................page 10 Crosswords..................page 11 Dear Annie...................page 11 NASCAR .....................page 13