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Trenton council authorizes smart sewer sensors, road rehabilitation and festival beverage operator
Summary
Council authorized purchase of five JGM Valve smart sewer covers ($33,592.65), approved a road rehabilitation contract for multiple streets ($438,370 plus a $95,000 contingency), approved roller shades for City Hall ($23,500), and named Trenton Rotary Club as the 2026 Summer Festival beverage operator.
The Trenton City Council on June 1 approved a package of operational and capital items including sewer monitoring sensors, a multi-street road rehabilitation contract and several routine purchases and event permissions.
DPS Director Mr. Sergeant asked the council to authorize the purchase of five smart manhole covers from JGM Valve for $33,592.65. He described the devices as using pressure and ultrasonic sensors to measure flows, optimize cleaning efforts and identify infiltration, with data transmitted by satellite and viewable 24/7 by city staff. Councilmember Puerie asked who will have access to the data; Mr. Sergeant said “just a few employees from public works and a few from the wastewater treatment plant.” The motion to purchase the five smart covers carried unanimously.
On pavement work, staff recommended contracting with a local bidder (transcribed as "Al's ashalt" in the record) to rehabilitate Barbara, Julie, Jenny, Franklin and Toledo Streets. The proposed contract totaled $438,370 with an added contingency of $95,000 in case milling reveals poor base material requiring deeper removal. Staff said Toledo Street’s work accounts for the largest portion (approximately $133,000) while the other streets require milling and a 2-inch wearing course. Councilmember Hornbeck raised timing concerns because neighborhood baseball and softball use the streets; staff said work would likely start in mid-August and take about three weeks, with some restoration work afterward. Council unanimously authorized the road project and contingency.
Other approved items included authorization to purchase roller screen window shades for City Hall from Best Buy Blinds for $23,500 with funding from the bond improvement fund, and approval for the Trenton Rotary Club to operate the beverage tent at the 2026 Summer Festival. Council also approved the St. Paul Lutheran Church "Healthy Trenton" 5K and one-mile event for July 18; organizers plan volunteer supervision and police direction for the route.
Approved disbursements for the meeting totaled $97,191.81 as part of routine financial business.
The meeting record does not include competitive-bid documents for the road contract; staff said the road pricing is an extension of DDA paving project pricing and cited a city engineer’s recommendation.
