Trenton set its tentative budget rates Friday evening.
The ad valorem tax rate was tentatively set at 3.75 mills.
The tentative budget was set at just under $2 million.
The community redevelopment budget was set at $272,294.
The enterprise fund budget was set at just over $1.8 million.
On Monday, at the regular meeting, city commissioners heard from Jeff Iannuzzi, a representative for Novoa Global, a company that provides speed-detection cameras for cities.
Iannuzzi’s presentation started with videos of children that were struck by cars in crosswalks. City Attorney David Lang said the videos were prejudicial, objected to their use and instructed Iannuzzi to skip that portion of his presentation.
Iannuzzi said Novoa Global has never been sued or lost in court in regard to tickets issued by the cameras.
He said issues that other municipalities have had with protesting tickets and losing in court were with different companies.
Iannuzzi said the school zone beacons are always shown on camera to show that the school zone was active at the time of the ticket and preventing protests.
Novoa Global would pay all construction and engineering costs; signage, maintenance and operating costs; mailings and court integration with no added fees; and for public awareness campaigns and press releases.
Trenton would pay through a shared revenue model with Novoa Global getting $25 per ticket or by a fixed monthly rate.
Clerk of Court Todd Newton asked the commissioners to consider going out to bid to make sure they are choosing the best company and deal for the city.
Newton asked about the speed limits that the cameras check for being adjusted during holidays and early release days. Iannuzzi said Novoa Global will pull the school calendar to make sure the cameras are set to the correct speed limit.
He added that Chief of Public Safety Matthew Rexroat will notify the company for closures for emergencies like hurricanes.
With only three commissioners present, the board chose to wait until it has all five commissioners to vote on the cameras.
City Manager Brittany Mills said she checked into a third-party company to conduct a speed survey, but it would cost $15,000. She said that was not feasible for the city at this time.
The three present commissioners voted to give $5,000 to the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce for its Christmas event in December.
Of the $5,000, $3,200 will go to the Chamber of Commerce. The other $1,800 will go toward paying officers to direct traffic as the chamber plans to close 129 during the event.
The city will have to submit a request to the Florida Department of Transportation to close the road.