Gabe Stark
Reporter

The Trenton City Council approved seven properties for demolition and a $70,200 increase to its sanitary sewer rehabilitation contract at its Monday, Sept. 28 meeting.

Demolition

A city memo estimates the city’s share of the demolitions at $22,650, within the $30,000 budgeted for the 2026-27 city demolition program. That money is separate from funding for the city’s Community Development Block Grant demolition project.

Community Development Director Wes Barone said participating property owners pay inspection costs and a share of demolition and abatement costs. The city pays half the demolition cost, up to $3,500 per property, plus half the abatement cost. Barone said the arrangement for one property was still being finalized. Tony Truitt of Linneus previously won the demolition work through competitive bidding.

Sewer project change

The council also approved a change order with SAK Construction LLC that raises the 2026 sanitary sewer rehabilitation contract to $423,221.50. City staff said crews found more sewer service connections than were included in the original project count. They opened the additional connections to avoid blocking service to homes and now need to install liners at those points to protect against infiltration and root intrusion.

Council members questioned how the original count missed so many connections and asked staff to review the verification process before future sewer lining projects. Staff said the additional work remains within the amount budgeted for the project.

Police equipment

The council also approved three HD in-car video systems for the police department at a cost of $25,740. The purchase will be covered by a $28,985.50 Missouri Blue Shield grant. Police Chief Rex Ross said the systems will work with the department’s body cameras.

Strategic planning

The council hired CP2 Consulting to lead a strategic planning process. City Administrator Matt Harline said the firm will gather input from the council, department heads and the community before developing priorities and steps to carry them out.

Ordinances

Other action taken by the council this week includes passage of two ordinances. One moves the regular council meeting time from 7 to 6:30 p.m. and allows the council to cancel or change the time of its next regularly scheduled meeting.

The other establishes purchasing rules for fuel used in electric generation. The city will seek bids from at least three viable sources when available, limit individual purchases to $50,000 and report purchases over $15,000 to the council at its next meeting.

The council will hold its next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12.