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TRENTON
THURS., JUNE 13, 2024
REPUBLICAN-TIMES “GOD BLESS AMERICA”
Old Glory flying at Five Points
republican-times.com
12 PAGES
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 160th Year - No. 41
Council Discusses Wage Scale 4-3 Vote Passes Wage Scale By Mark McLaughlin R-T Staff Writer The Trenton City Council took on a weighty, red-meat agenda in Monday night’s regular session held at the City Council chamber. In attendance were Mayor Soptic, City Administrator Ron Urton, City Attorney Kenton Kinney, City Clerk Cindy Simpson, and Council members Tim Meinecke, David Mlika, Duane Uriich, John Dolan, Lou Fischer, Glenn Briggs and Marvin Humphreys. Councilman Calvin Brown was absent. Following the approval of minutes and bills, the Council moved into a final discussion of the Wage Scale/Years of Service pay scale, which has seen multiple revisions and required a lot of discussion between the Mayor, and members of city departments, most importantly, City Hall and the Electric Department. Opened to discussion, Councilman Mlika inquired as to why the City Clerk and Comptroller of TMU were listed on different lines of the scale, when both appeared to have parallel duties in managing the finances of the two entities. It was learned that this, and the apparent disconnect with City Hall and Electric Department employees went back to a 2011
attempt at a scale, voted down by the Council, that was used to “provide guidance” for pay levels, a detail unknown to Soptic or Urton until it was studied. Urton noted that 10-changes were made to the scale, primarily to address the concern that the original draft of the scale would place numerous workers in a position of having to work several years to get the first pay increase. It was determined that everyone in both City and TMU structures would receive an initial pay bump and then be on a two-year cycle for review after that. The difference will amount to an increase of roughly $78,000 total in new pay for City employees and $111,000 in new increases for TMU workers. Councilman Glenn Briggs asked the question, “Can we afford this?” Urton responded that the City had had several years of budget surpluses, and Councilman Meinecke reminded the group that the scale was not a contract, but an “intent” to move forward with this as a model. To a question about council options going forward, Soptic said,”the council could choose to freeze salaries at the current level, reduce them, or increase them, based on revenues available at the time.” [See COUNCIL , Page 2]
The Trenton Rotary Club made a $1,532 donation to the Bright Futures Trenton shoe project during its meeting on June 6. The money was raised as part of the club’s Shoes for Orphan Souls project held earlier this year. Shoe chairman Diane Lowrey, left, presented a check to Adrienne Todd, center, who coordinates the Bright Futures shoe project. Also pictured is Rotary Club Past President Brian Upton. Submitted by Dianne Lowrey
NCMC Finacial Aid Director Elected Kristi Harris NCMC Chief of Staff North Central Missouri College’s Financial Aid Director Kimberly Meeker was recently elected President-Elect of the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel (MASFAP). She will serve as president-elect this year and then move into the presidency. This is a three-year term, during which she will serve as president-elect in 2025, president in 2026, and past president in 2027. Kimberly said, “I am honored to have been nominated and elected to serve as the 2025 PresidentElect for the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel (MASFAP).
While I have served in numerous roles on the MASFAP executive board in the past, I am eager for the opportunity to serve in this new role, alongside respected colleagues, continuing efforts to improve post-secondary education funding and affordability through advocacy and outreach.” MASFAP is a leading professional organization for financial aid administrators and advocacy. For over 50 years, it has strived to improve post-secondary education funding and provide updates, training, and education to its members. Members are experts in all facets of financial aid and can network and form a
strong alliance of professionals (www.masfap.org). Dr. Kristen Alley, NCMC Vice President of Student Affairs, said, “The Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel (MASFAP)
has a lengthy history of being the premiere financial aid association in the state. They have done an excellent job at providing advocacy, professional development, and education on [See NCMC, Page 11]
Kimberly Meeker, MASFAP President-Elect
Rotary Donates to Annual Project The healthcare navigator program provided by Preferred Family Healthcare was the topic of a program presented at the Thursday, June 6 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club, held at the BTC Bank community room. Brian Upton presided at the meeting, Joe MacDonald gave the prayer and Martha Goedert was the sergeant at arms. Program chairman Steve Taylor introduced Kristi Faulkner, who is the supervisor of the healthcare navigator program, which assists clients with paperwork required to receive certain state and federal services such as Medicaid, SSI benefits, etc. Ms. Faulkner said that because applications for many of the programs are now done online, many individuals have difficulty in filling out paperwork, which is where the Preferred Family
program comes in. As a former state employee who helped individuals when many of the services were offered in person, Ms. Falkner said she suggested Preferred Family offer such a service for its clients. The program began initially at the Trenton location, but has since been expanded to include other Preferred Family sites statewide. There are currently 4 individuals who work in the local office, but provide the serve at the other sites. The Kirksville location has its own healthcare navigators. [See ROTARY, Page 11]
Check out the Farmer’s Market at Sesquicentennial Park Saturday morning from 8 - 12.