Special to the Trenton Telegraph

Matt Harline, Trenton’s city administrator, said none of the seven houses on the 2026 demolition list have been torn down.

“None of the demolitions have been completed,” he said.

The City Council voted Aug. 10 to hire Truitt Dirt Work for the demolitions at a total cost of $48,750, according to meeting minutes. Perkins Dozing bid $52,500 and Red Rock bid $53,600. At the same meeting, the council picked Red Rock to inspect each structure for hazardous materials at $699 per structure, over 24/7 Enviro Solutions, which quoted $1,100 per structure.

Harline explained how the project is paid for. The work draws on “$308,000 in federal funds and $60,000 in match from the city,” he said. “Some of that is cash payments to vendors, some is in-kind labor.”

The Community Development Block Grant demolition program, run by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, helps communities tear down vacant, dilapidated structures and lists funding limits of $200,000 for residential-only projects and $300,000 for projects that include commercial structures. Mayor Jackie Soptic gave the council an update on the grant’s progress July 27. Harline’s response did not say when the grant money must be spent.