PDF PAGES FOR WEBISTE.qxp_Layout 1 4/5/19 7:14 AM Page 1
Friday, April 5, 2019
TRENTON
REPUBLICAN-TIMES
Trenton, MO 64683
Check out the Republican-Times on the Internet: www.republican-times.com ©W.B. Rogers Printing Co., Inc.
Twelve Pages & 1 Insert
Established Sept. 4, 1864 - 155th Year - No. 62
TRENTON PARK BOARD
Briefs...
Soccer Stars Get Field Use Approval
Sales Tax Drop Results In Deficit Budget OK Noting that sales tax revenue is down and the cost of doing business is going up, the Trenton Park Board approved a budget Wednesday evening that contains few frills. With a projected decrease of around $25,000 in sales tax revenue, the board approved a budget that shows total revenues of $555,320 and total expenditures (park department and aquatic center combined) of $565,716 for a projected deficit of $10,396. The park department had a fund balance of $257,162 as of Jan. 15. On the revenue side of the budget, the largest amount of income will come from sales tax, $345,000, while another $91,000 is projected to come from the ad valorem tax on real estate. Pool receipts are being projected at $60,000 with pool concessions expected to bring in another $12,000 and ballfield conces-
75¢ per copy
sions listed at $11,500. A transfer from the Frey Fund is listed at $12,120 (to be used to construct a pickleball court at Moberly Park), while smaller amounts are budgeted from ball park user fees ($4,300); Rock Barn rental fees ($2,500); shelter house rent, ($2,400); interest income ($2,750); tree/bench memorials ($750); equipment sale income ($5,500); and miscellaneous income ($5,500). On the expense side, the driving force behind the numbers is the cost of operating the parks and the cost of paying part-time employees who received raises due to the increase in minimum wage. While the board approved 25cent per hour pay increases for full-time employees (the same amount being proposed for other city employees), the exact pay rates for part-time
Rissler Program
employees isn’t yet known. It was noted that the minimum wage increase may mean employees who have been with the department or aquatic center longer would be making the same as a new employee since raises for longevity might not be possible with the new minimum wage. It is estimated that there will be an $8,000 increase in aquatic center part-time pay, from $52,000 to $60,000. Capital projects in the amount of $32,500 are included in the budget, with the largest being the cost of the pickleball court. The other projects listed for the park system are estimated at $2,000 or less, with the exception of a $10,000 repayment of funds to the Ebbe Fund. The budget also includes $11,500 for a new mower, with that piece of See Park, Page 3
Commission Agenda
The Rissler Elementary School will hold its annual spring music program, “Be Our Guest,” on Friday, April 12. The program, featuring movie-themed performances by students in grades two, three and four, will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Ketcham Community Center on the North Central Missouri College campus. Students are to be at the KCC no later than 6:15 p.m. The event is open to the public and there is no charge. Rachel Lorenz is the Rissler music instructor.
The Grundy County Commission will hold its regular weekly meeting on Tuesday, April 9 at the courthouse. The commission will be opening three bids - fuel at 9 a.m., pipe at 9:30 a.m. and concrete at 10 a.m. - as well as meeting with Grundy County Ambulance Supervisor Steve Tracy at 10:30 a.m. Shannon Howe of Howe Company will meet with the commission at 1 p.m. to discuss county bridges.
Laredo R-7 Board
The Trenton R-9 Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8 in the district office. Items on the announced agenda include audit bids, certification of election results, reorganization of the board, approval of a grant, discussion of the building project, an At-Risk program report, MSBA spring meeting, summer school, a safety report and principal reports. An executive session for personnel is planned and, according to Athletic Director Wes Croy, will include recommendations for the head football, head high school girls basketball and head girls volleyball coaching positions as well as coaches for the high school football and basketball cheerleading squads.
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 8 at the school. Items on the announced agenda include swearing in of board members Kristi Urich and Angela Lowrey, reorganization of the board, consideration of a salary proposal, discussion of MoreNet, discussion of a bus grant, amendments to the 2018-19 school calendar, building improvements, health insurance, MSBA dues, the 2019-20 career ladder program, the NEE contract, a budget review, announcement of upcoming events and non-certified, extra duty, counseling, occupational therapy and speech contracts. An executive session for personnel is also planned.
R-9 Board Agenda
FFA Northwest CDEs
Judging Teams Advance To State
discussions are already under way with representatives from the district’s bonding company, George K. Baum, to move forward on the project. During either the May or June board meeting, officials from the bonding company will recommend the board approve a resolution that will allow the sale of bonds to begin. It is anticipated the $7 million will be generated by either July or August, with the funds to be deposited into the district’s capital projects fund (Fund 4). While work is under way on the funding portion, district officials will meet with architects from Ellison-Auxier to complete the final project plans. Administrators and staff will be meeting with the architects to determine what the final project will look like and once the plan is complete, the district will be working with a general contractor and construction will begin. Wiebers noted the projects involving
The Trenton FFA has qualified four judging for state competition and one team as an alternate during Northwest Missouri Career Development Education judging activities in Maryville on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both the Ag Sales and Meats Team finished in first place while the Dairy Cattle Team placed fourth and the Ag Mechanics Team was sixth. All four teams will represent Trenton at the State FFA Convention judging competition later this month in Columbia. Qualifying as an alternate was the Food Science Team, which placed third. The Ag Sales Team had four of the top nine individual judges, with Teresa Burkholder (Yoder) finishing second, Noah Burkeybile finishing third, Nick Velazquez finishing fifth and Melea Farmer finishing ninth. The Meats Team had three of the top five judges, led by Mackenzie McAtee, who placed first. Grace Allen was second, McKenna Cox was fifth and Kayi Crawford was 11th. The Dairy Cattle Team was led by Haven Burress, who was the fifth overall individual judge. Other team members were Rebecca Urich, Hannah Bowe and Jenna Reeter. The Ag Mechanics Team included Logan Stanton, 14th; Dolan Huber and Ben Woodson, tied for 15th; and Hunter
See R-9, Page 12
See FFA, Page 7
Submitted Photo
Join the salty crew of colorful scallywags when Bluebeard, Yellowbeard, Whitebeard, Purplebeard along with No Beards hoist the Jolly Roger and set sail for a mighty adventure as the Pleasant View R-6 School presents its spring program at 7 o’clock tonight (Friday) in the school gym. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will present “Pirates! The Musical,” with the preschool and school band also performing. The program, which is free and open to the public, is under the direction of Shani Kinney.
APRIL 2 ELECTION
Trenton Council Has Three New Members
City Has New Mayor; R-9 Levy Passes There’s a new mayor in town. Linda Crooks was elected mayor of Trenton on Tuesday, April 2 from among a four-candidate field. She was the top votegetter in all four city wards as well as absentees. Ms. Crooks received 802 votes to best incumbent mayor, Dr. Nick McHargue, Rocky Dunkin and Larry Porter. Dr. McHargue collected 360 votes while Dunkin received 130 votes. Porter finished with 60 votes. There will also be three new members joining the city council. First ward councilman Glen Briggs was re-elected for another two-year term, defeating Kenny Weaver 157-119. Newlyelected council members include Danny Brewer in the second ward, who defeated Robert Romesburg, 185-84; Cathie Smith in the third ward, who defeated Harry Kately, 247-78; and John Dolan in the fourth ward, who defeated Jim Bush, 297-146. Ms. Crooks, along with Briggs, Brewer, Mrs. Smith and Dolan, will be
sworn in at the April 8 city council meeting, once election results have been certified. In a race for Trenton Township Board, Jack Derry defeated incumbent Billy Wilson, 721-607. Voters in the Laredo R-7 School District voted to continue a $1.40 operating levy for another five years, with funds to go for general operating expenses. The vote was 102 in favor and 34 opposed. In the city of Laredo, Derek Eckert and Brett Mathews were elected as aldermen-at-large. Eckert received 27 votes while Mathews received 23. Other candidates were Cassidy Russell, 17; and Saundra Marrs, 12. Laredo city residents also voted to issue $500,000 in revenue bonds to pay for improvements to the city’s water and sewer system. The vote was 35 in favor and 17 opposed. Township levies were approved in See Mayor, Page 3
National Weather Service There’s a chance of rain off and on through the weekend with highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 40s. The high on Monday, April 1 at Trenton was 57, Tuesday’s high was 71 and Wednesday’s high was 60. The overnight low on Wednesday was 43. A total of .10 of an inch of rain was recorded in that time period. There was no report from the Government Weather Station near Spickard.
Now that Trenton R-9 School District voters have approved continuation of its 90-cent debt service levy for another 20 years, school officials are getting to work on the final plan for what patrons will be getting for their money. On Tuesday, R-9 voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal to continue the 90-cent debt service levy to allow the district to borrow up to $7 million for a project that was promoted as “making students safe.” A 57.14 percent approval was needed for the issue to pass. Voters gave a 71.4 percent nod to the proposal, which saw 1,154 persons in favor while 462 were opposed. The construction project will include construction of a performing arts center/hallway system at the high school/middle school campus, improvements to the high school/middle school media center, a redesign of the entryway at Rissler Elementary School and a new concession stand/restroom facilities at C.F. Russell Stadium. Superintendent Dan Wiebers said
What’s Inside... It’s been a busy week for Trenton High School and Trenton Middle School sports. See page 2 of today’s RepublicanTimes for results of competitions involving boys and girls track, boys tennis, boys golf and baseball.
Trenton Republican-Times “News Every Day...When YOU Want It” CHANCE OF RAIN
www.republican-times.com
What’s Inside Sports.............................page 2 Local News.............page 3 & 7 Op/Ed ............................page 4 Community ...................page 5 Calendars ......................page 5 Agriculture....................page 6 Comics ...........................page 8 Dear Annie ....................page 9 Crosswords....................page 9