Trenton Council approves vehicle purchase, memorial contract, splash‑pad engineering and other measures

The Trenton City Council on Feb. 6 approved multiple motions and ordinances with little debate, including purchases and contracts for city operations and park improvements, an appointment to a volunteer board, and actions related to retirement contribution pickup and an ODOT paving project. The council later voted to enter executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.

Key approvals

- Vehicle purchase: The council authorized the city manager to purchase a 02/2024 Ram ProMaster cargo van from Budsina Chrysler Dodge Jeep Inc. at a total cost of $49,916 and authorized the city manager to sign required documents. The council approved the motion by roll call.

- Mayor's court magistrate compensation: The council amended the monthly compensation for the Trenton mayor’s court magistrate to $1,450 per month and authorized the change.

- Veterans memorial contract: The council authorized the city manager to enter into a contract with Dodds Memorial for retention services for the City of Trenton Veterans Memorial Project at a total cost of $35,500 and authorized the city manager to sign required documents.

- Volunteer fund board appointment: The council appointed Sherry Hodge to fill the vacant resident position on the Trenton Volunteer Firefighter Dependent Fund Board for a one-year term.

- Splash‑pad engineering: The council authorized the city manager to enter into a contract with Kleinentress Group for engineering services for construction drawings and administration of the splash pad at Community Park in an amount not to exceed $50,650 and authorized the city manager to sign related documents.

- ODOT urban paving program: The council approved and adopted an ordinance to participate in the FY 2026 ODOT urban paving program (PID number 115754, agreement number 42128) and approved the related agreement; council members asked staff about construction details such as manhole cover treatment during the discussion.

- Retirement contributions (IRC 414(h)(2)): The council adopted an ordinance providing for the city to pick up the statutorily required contributions to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) for city employees pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 414(h)(2); council members noted an exhibit to the ordinance that limited the pickup to mayor’s court management while the ordinance title referenced all city employees, and the council waived the second reading and voted to approve the measure that evening.

Executive session

The council voted to move into executive session at 8:03 p.m. to discuss the employment or compensation of a public employee or official and to confer with legal counsel; no other business was conducted after the executive session was called.

Votes and procedure

Most items were advanced by motion, seconded and approved by roll call with unanimous “yea” votes recorded in the meeting transcript. Where council members asked questions—for example about oversight of ODOT paving work and how manhole covers will be treated—staff indicated they would follow up.

No item on the Feb. 6 agenda was tabled for further public vote except for one item earlier in the meeting that the mayor moved to table until the next meeting pending further information.

What it means

The approvals clear the way for immediate procurement and contracting steps on city projects, park amenities and the veterans memorial. The retirement-contribution ordinance’s discrepancy between title and exhibit was noted on the record; council members voted to approve after waiving the second reading. The executive session indicates the council and staff planned confidential discussion on personnel and legal matters.