Council approves $1.03 million Trenton Water Works land purchase; staff outlines multi-year pump-station plan

Trenton City Council on Sept. 4 approved Ordinance 25-086 authorizing Trenton Water Works to purchase property in Hamilton and Ewing townships — identified in the ordinance as the Elk’s property (1580 Cruiser Road, Hamilton Township) and Crest Deck property (Ludlow Drive, Ewing Township) — for a combined purchase price of $1,034,191.14. The purchase passed on roll call after no public speakers registered on the ordinance.

Director Semple, representing Trenton Water Works, briefed council on the programmatic plan tied to the purchase. He described the acquisitions as the first step in a multi-site build that would allow the city to decommission a reservoir and construct new storage tanks and a new pump station off-site. Semple said the department is pursuing ownership to allow the utility to move zoning and environmental applications forward: "We are y'all approved a lease over a year ago, lease to purchase agreement ... we could build the tanks out in these locations," he said. Semple said a new pump station will be required before tank construction and that the schedule to complete the broader project could range from three to five years once permitting and land acquisition are complete.

On timeline, Semple said some early site preparatory work could begin after closing and that zoning approvals by the host townships will be required. "Once this is approved tonight, once, the ordinance is, I think it's 20 days after that, we'll go to the law department to try to do the necessary paperwork to own it...so we should expect a closing within, like, 90 days," he told council. Semple also said the utility prefers building a new pump station rather than rehabilitating the original one because a new station avoids building a temporary station and the extra decommission/rehab steps.

Council members asked for estimated construction timing and the director reiterated that while acquisition closes quickly, construction and environmental compliance will be multi-year efforts. Council accepted the ordinance on roll call and Semple said the staff will move toward legal closing and start required township zoning applications.