City Of Trenton Prepares For Contract With Veterinarian
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
The July 8 meeting of the City of Trenton Board of Commissioners included discussion of a contract with a veterinarian, but first, the board approved using SPLOST to purchase new flooring for City Hall. The total is $6,347.84 with $2,147.84 for the flooring from Professional Flooring Supplies and $4,200 for the installation by T. J. Prince.
Then, Alex Case (mayor) explained the need for a contract with a veterinarian in order to access tranquilizers. The tranquilizer darts are used when animals are difficult to catch or pose a threat to animals or people. Case added that as the city and county move toward the animal control facility, a vet is greatly needed.
He said, “We’ve got to get this moving now. The last three incidents that Ronnie’s been out on he needed [tranquilizers].” Case added that the vet will be looking at the city’s intake procedures.
Case said Robert McKaig (a local vet) worked with the city for many years until he retired. Since then, the city has had difficulty finding a new vet. The vet that the city is currently considering lives in the county, works for a private vet in Chattanooga, and would like to be involved with animals in Dade.
Case, Terry Powell (parks/animal control commissioner), and Ronnie Page (animal control officer) had a meeting with the vet scheduled for July 9 to propose a month-to-month contract, paying the vet $1,000 per month. The board voted to move forward with this contract proposal.
Case concluded (and Powell agreed), “It’s a big thing we need to do for the safety of our community and our animals.”
Mike Norris (police commissioner) read the police report. In June, the Trenton Police Department answered 341 calls for service, conducted 1,619 business checks, completed 13 welfare checks, responded to six domestic disturbance, 21 suspicious activity, and five animal complaint calls, and worked 20 traffic crashes. From 128 traffic stops, 79 citations were issued.
Norris and Case noted that both the Trenton Police Department and Dade County Sheriff’s Office had a presence at the 1945 Fair and were ready and able to respond to incidents that came up amidst the festivities.
Lucretia Houts (fire and utility commissioner) reported that the Trenton Fire Department answered 115 calls in June, ten of which were fire related and 53 of which were canceled en route. She added that the city’s fire department completed its annual pump test, ensuring the trucks are able to pump water correctly.
In his report, Case noted that the consolidation reports from the tax assessor will soon be ready, and he would like to meet with each commissioner and department director to discuss the next fiscal year budget.
During the monthly financial report, Case noted that the city’s 2015 SPLOST has $60,968.19 left that must be spent by the end of the year. He said, “We’ve got to get this money done before the Department of Revenue asks for it back.”
Like at last week’s county commission meeting, Mindy Haworth introduced Lydia Soucy, the Dade County Public Library’s new library manager. Of Haworth, Soucy said, “She’s left big shoes to fill, but she’s also left it in a really good place.”
During the Alliance for Dade presentation, Patricia Cloud (Welcome Center manager) reported the monthly Welcome Center numbers. June 2024 brought 83 out-of-town visitors to the Welcome Center as well as 63 residents and 53 phone calls.
Compared to last year, this is a jump in out-of-town visitors; June 2023 brought in 54 visitors as well as 86 residents and 42 phone calls. The numbers from April and May 2023 and April and May 2024 numbers did not differ drastically, averaging around 50 out-of-town visitors.
