By: Summer Kelley, Staff Reporter

Looking at the year’s financial balance, the city does not look in as good a shape as it normally does, but Trenton Mayor Barton Harris and City Clerk Lucretia Houts say that the $16,000 shortfall only looks that way on paper.

After presenting the city financials, Harris explained that the deficit shown on the city’s budget for the year was a deficit on paper only. The city begins each year with a zero balance when, in fact, there was money in the city’s accounts to cover the shortfall. Harris also said that revenue was down at the city just like everywhere else, but should pick up as property taxes are paid this month.

“All of our departments are under budget,” Harris said. “The commissioners sitting in front of you have been good stewards of your money. The city is in good shape.”

In keeping with the financial discussion, Lucretia Houts asked that the commissioners amend the budget to cover any overages and shortages. The budget was amended for the same reason about six months earlier and it was time to do it again. Houts said that normally this is done in January, but the auditors frown on doing it at that time. City commissioners agreed to amend the budget through Dec.31, 2009.

Streets Commissioner Greg Houts and Harris also asked for the commission’s permission to purchase two used vehicles for the city. According to Greg Houts, the city’s bucket truck that is used for hanging lights, signs and other purposes is getting dangerous. The Streets Department is currently looking for a good, used bucket truck to replace the city’s current one and Houts asked that the city set aside $15,000 to be used for the purchase. 

Harris who said the city’s vehicle –a decommissioned 2004 patrol unit – was unsafe requested the second used vehicle purchase. The vehicle is used mainly for out-of-town travel. Harris cited some of the vehicle’s problems such as rear doors that will not unlock, a horn that does not blow, turn signals that work only occasionally and no high beams. Harris said the vehicle is worth $1,800 and that it would cost that, or more, to repair the car. Harris asked the commission for approval to trade in the vehicle on a decent, used car. The commission approved both vehicle requests unanimously.

Only one other additional financial matter was covered at Monday night’s City Commission meeting and that pertained to the purchase of five new computers and a new server for the city. Harris said money had been set aside in SPLOST, special purpose local option sales tax, for the upgrade of computers. According to city administrators, the city’s current computers are six years old and older. The server is quite a bit older and is in need of replacement. Better Hometown Manager Peter Cervelli said the IT people that have worked on the city’s computers said it was time to replace the server. The purchase of five new computers and a new server was approved unanimously by the commission.

The only other major issue to come before the commission Monday evening involved the citizen’s participation portion of the meeting. Steve Britton, a resident of the city of Trenton, asked commissioners about the “17 people” complaining about his property. 

“I want to know what the problem is,” Britton said.

Harris told Britton that his property was in violation of city ordinance and needed to be cleaned up.  Numerous complaints have been written and voiced to the city regarding Britton’s property and many have been accompanied by pictures. The city has asked Britton more than once to clean up the property and Britton remains in violation of the city ordinance.

“It is not fair to these people to let your property go,” Harris said. “In a city slum area it wouldn’t matter, but this is a nice subdivision.”

Britton defended himself by saying that the home was undergoing renovations and the so-called “trash” was actually building materials for the renovation, including $4,000 worth of mountain stone for a new patio. Britton also said he had a building permit from the city and was working on the property every day that he could, but that he is over 60 years old and has had heart problems so it has been slow going. 

According to Britton the property fell into disrepair after the April windstorm that caused damage to his property. It had taken several weeks for him to receive his insurance check and then he had purchased the materials to fix the damage. Britton even asked city officials to meet him at the property to discuss the problems with him so he could walk them through what all the items were, but Harris declined saying that a visit had already been made Monday morning.

“Why don’t you stop having meetings without me, driving by and looking at things and come talk to me,” Britton said.

Harris repeated, once again, that the property was still in violation of city ordinance and needed to be brought into compliance and said that if anyone else had anything to say about it, they could voice their views as well.

“Regardless of what your story is, the property is still unsightly and needs to be brought into compliance,” Harris said. “I’m trying to explain as best I can – you are in violation and it has to be fixed.”

In other business:

• Harris announced Streetscape is proceeding and a preliminary meeting has been held. More information on the project will be available soon.

• More quotes on the civic center have been received and more information on the construction will be forthcoming.

• The Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority (DDA) reported Christmas in the Park and the Christmas Parade to be a success. Special thanks was given to Rising Fawn United Methodist Church for all their help and Cervelli said there had been a better turnout for the parade than there had been in a long time, despite the cold temperatures.

• The Shop At Home event sponsored by the DDA began the day after Thanksgiving and ran until last Saturday. The goal of the event is to get more people into stores to buy locally. Those who visit participating stores during the event are invited to fill out an entry form to be entered into a drawing for gift certificates to area locations. Cervelli said the numbers on the event are not in, yet, but he will provide them as soon as they have them.

• Ken Earwood’s term on the DDA Board expired and the Board requested that the commission re-appoint Earwood for another two-year term. The board unanimously approved the appointment.

• Debbie Tinker, Chamber of Commerce Director, said the Chamber will be adding four new members and is working on a GAP Grant to promote the city’s spring festival.

• Eloise Gass of Tree City reported that the organization accomplished everything this year it had hoped to accomplish. All the city flower beds were planted, including the one at the Post Office and new trees were placed throughout the community.

• Mary Petruska of the Arts Council said that the city’s new banners are being done by Jerry Wallace and should be completed in couple of weeks. The Arts Council is also bringing back the Beatniks as part of the large fundraiser being held for the soldier whose property has been burglarized while he is serving overseas.

• Court fines are being increased due to a change at the state level. The only fine that will be affected will be the fine for driving without a license, without ever having had a license. This fine amount used to be $95 and has changed to $816 that puts it closer to the fine for driving on a suspended license.