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TRENTON
THURS., APRIL 4, 2024
REPUBLICAN-TIMES “GOD BLESS AMERICA”
Old Glory flying at Five Points
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TMU Announces Temporary Changes to Water Disinfection Beginning April 6, 2024, the Trenton Municipal Utilities Water Treatment Plant will begin utilizing free chlorine, or a free chlorine conversion, in its water system. This entails feeding free chlorine, instead of chloramines (chlorine combined with ammonia), as the disinfectant at the leaving the Water Treatment Plant. This will affect customers of Trenton Municipal Utilities, Grundy County PWSD #1, City of Galt, and the City of Spickard. Western Sullivan County will be affected if they are using water from TMU. This will occur for 6 to 8 weeks. Here are some commonly asked questions about free chlorine conversion and their purpose: • Possible Noticeable Effects: There are no associated health risks to the process. During these efforts to improve water quality, there will be times of lower water pressure, possible odor, taste, discoloration, and small particles in the water. TMU and/or your water service will attempt to flush the particles, [See TMU, Page 2]
R-IX Bond Issue, County Use Tax Pass; Economic Development Tax Fails by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer Voters made their way to the polls in eight precincts in Grundy County Tuesday to cast their votes for school board positions, city council positions, and both local and county ballot initiatives. Grundy County Clerk Courtney Campbell reported that turnout was as expected across the county
with 1,007 voters of 5,787 registered, or 17 percent of voters participating. Across the county, City, County and School initiatives were before the voters, and they spoke definitively. The Trenton R-IX School Bond Issue passed by a 562-226 margin (7129 percent margin) while the County Use Tax passed with a 32-vote margin
R-T Investigation...
Grundy County Property Tax Reassessment Not Completed in 2023 (Part 2 in a Series) by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer The role of a Missouri County Assessor is a critical one, because it is that office holder’s work that determines how much property tax citizens pay, and once set and collected, the collected taxes are distributed through the County Treasurer to “taxing entities” that are at least partially funded by those proceeds. That includes schools,
township, city and county governments, rural and small town fire districts, nursing homes, the county health department, law enforcement and the Public Library. Trenton R-IX schools superintendent Daniel Gott told us in an interview on the school’s Annual Performance Report, that the County Assessor, Nathan Curtis, had told the school in the spring of 2023 that the legally required 2023 [See Assessor, Page 2]
(510-478 for a 52-48 percent margin). The City halfcent Economic Development Sales Tax fell short by a 279-288 vote, a 9-vote margin. In the only contested race, Trenton R-IX school board members Bill Miller and Melissa King took the top two spots, outpacing challenger Rosie Gray. The Results… [See Election, Page 3]
tistical Source: NCMDA Annual Report) Hostetler’s Market opened for business in the former Oscheln’s building in late 2023. The DG Market, located directly west of the new Tractor Supply Building, had a “soft open” this week. And…wait for it, steak burritos, tacos and other spicy fodder will soon find a home with construction of a new Taco Bell, coming soon to 9th Street directly east of the current Sonic Restaurant. NCMC’s construction of the new Student Center is underway, following the laying of concrete “base” in what looked for the last few weeks like the biggest sand box of all of North Missouri. Dannar’s presentation to the Council was quick, brief and to the point, but also a load of good information. Dannar, who also serves as Director of Main Street Trenton and
Groundbreaking Set for April 10 The North Central Missouri College Foundation is hosting a Groundbreaking Event to celebrate the start of construction of the Dr. Neil & Susanne Nuttall Student Center on Wednesday, April 10, at 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Chestnut and West 13th Street in Trenton. All members of the public are invited to attend. The Nuttall Student Center is a major initiative of NCMC and part of the NCMC Foundation’s Transforming Lives, Empowering People campaign. North Central Missouri College has a rich campus history. As the campus and student body continue to grow, so does the demand to enhance the collegiate feel of the campus and provide students with a place to congregate, build friendships, and provide educational opportunities outside of the classroom. The Dr. Neil & Susanne Nuttall Student Center has been designed to be student-centric: a [See NCMC, Page 3]
New Business in Town
R-T Photo/Mark McLaughlin
The new Dollar General DG Market had it's "soft open" on Monday, March 25. The store is the second grocery and general store to open in the last year. Located just west of Tractor Supply, the store is part of NCMDA's economic development plan to bring new business and jobs to Trenton.
Trenton Economic Development in Upswing by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer If you are not growing, you are dying. The City of Trenton and the Greenhills Region are an area of the state of Missouri that some numbers suggest is in decline. Figures shared with the Trenton City Council by North Central Missouri Development Alliance (NCMDA) Executive Director Lauren Dannar suggest a 5 percent population drop between 2010 and 2023. Jobs declined in Trenton from 3,406 to 3,011 between 2018-23. Property values, if one accepts figures from the Missouri State Auditor’s Office, are down 1.6 percent, resulting in a potential loss of County and State funding to city and county government. While there are danger signs, there are also some very encouraging trends that give reason for hope. (Sta-
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Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 160th Year - No. 31
the Trenton Chamber of Commerce, utilizes an incredible software tool known as Placer AI, which uses “geographic fencing” to determine foot traffic, commuter traffic, and can assess for the city what kind of businesses and “ventures” to encourage to come to the City. “We are in contact with different kinds of businesses, and are looking to recruit a permanent cell phone service to locate here, and we also have a great need for childcare providers and kids clothing and shoe stores,” Dannar said. “We are working out in the county to approach businesses located other places and encouraging them at looking to relocate here.” This “go out among ‘em” mindset helped lead to the location of Hostetler’s in Trenton, and relied on the “real-time” data Placer AI provided to identify “customer leak”, out of [See ED, Page 2
County Commissioners Receive Bids by Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer The Grundy County Commissioners received bids for fuel service and for road and bridge building supplies in their Tuesday, March 19 meeting. The Commissioners opened bids for fuel service for county vehicles and machinery as follows: Landes Oil Company, Jamesport offered a bid that included a Landes Oil fleet card for emergency vehicles that need fuel after business hours or other locations. Landes Oil uses a winter blend additive during the winter months at no extra cost to customers. Landes Oil on 28th Street
in Trenton will have dyed diesel fuel available and ample space for large vehicles at the diesel island and parking. Bid price will be pump price less $0.05 (five cents) discount and federal road tax on all gasoline and clear diesel fuel. Landes offered a pump price on diesel of $3.559, with federal tax of $0.244 cents and a per gallon price of $3.315 minus a $0.05 discount. Landes offered a gasoline pump price of $3.199 [See Bids, Page 3]