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“Regular Meeting”
Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.
Trenton City Hall, Caucus Room
Meeting Minutes
1. The meeting of the Downtown Development Authority was called to order at 6:00 P.M. by Chairman Christopher Liphardt.
DDA Board Members Present Absent
Leonard Bochenek E
Justin Gaffrey, Secretary X
Kathy Kane, E
Lance Latkiewicz E
Christopher Liphardt, X
Chairman
Christina McNally, Vice- X
Chairwoman
Mark Nestor, Treasurer X
Steven Rzeppa, Mayor E
Ashley Young X
Vacant
Vacant
Also Present: Angelia Pusino, DDA Director.
26-DDA-220
2. Motion by McNally, supported by Nestor to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
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3. Motion by Gaffrey, supported by Young to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
Motion carried.
26-DDA-222
4. Motion by Nestor, supported by McNally to place on file the monthly Revenue and Expenditure Report for the period ending
December 31, 2025. Motion carried.
26-DDA-223
5. Motion by Nestor, supported by Latkiewicz to place on file the current bills in the amount of $39,200.28. Motion carried.
Business Improvement Grant
26-DDA-224
6a. Motion by Gaffrey, supported by McNally to approve the Business Improvement Grant Program application for
2710 W Jefferson Ave for a $24,965 grant. Motion carried.
26-DDA-225
6b. Motion by Nestor, supported by McNally to approve the grant release for Business Improvement Grant Program
applicant 2515 W Jefferson Ave for $8,924.03. Motion carried.
Old Business
7a.

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New Business
26-DDA-226
8a. Motion by McNally, supported by Nestor to approve the Downtown Dollars Valentine’s Deal from Feb 2-15 for
$3,000. Motion carried.
26-DDA-227
8b. Motion by McNally, supported by Latkiewicz to approve the Informational Meeting #1 FY 25-26 presentation. Motion
carried.
26-DDA-228
8c. Motion by Nestor, supported by McNally to place on file and submit the Annual Report for 2025. Motion carried.
8. Director’s Report
• Noel Nights: We had to cancel the 13th date due to bad weather. The Hot Cocoa walk had been rescheduled to the last
Noel Night on the 20th. We received great feedback from the last Noel Night, and Santa was a big draw for the event. The
winner of the Snowflake Scavenger Hunt was announced this week. Thank you to the board members who helped out
during the event.
• Holiday Window Decorating Contest: Winners were announced this week. Congratulations to the Trenton School of
Dance, South Valley Internal Medicine, and Martenson Funeral Home! We had nearly 800 people vote and received 10
entries.
• Winterfest: The next event will be on January 17th. It will feature ice sculptures, fire pits, pony rides, a petting farm,
vendors, food trucks, face painting, yard games, and our first mural mapping or "light show." The Event Committee is
seeking volunteers to help check in vendors and set up the yard games.
• SEMCOG Planning Assistance Grant: The next meeting is scheduled for January 20th. Beckett & Raeder are expected to
provide additional updates to be shared with the board at this meeting.
• Boujee Banquet: Don't forget that the State of the City Awards Banquet is coming this February. Ticket sales will end at
the end of the month. Tickets can be purchased at the Parks and Recreation Department.
• Downtown Dollars: We sold nearly $4,000 in Downtown Dollars, marking a very successful transaction.
• Van Horn Railroad Track Open Meeting: If you would like to learn more about the upcoming railroad project at Vanhorn
Rd and Fort St, there will be an Open House at Trenton City Hall on January 14th at 4:00 PM.
• Placer ai: The contract with Placer.ai has been signed, and I will have the account set up by next week. In our next
meeting, I will present the results from Small Business Saturday and Noel Nights, along with the final budgets for these
events. Additionally, I will explore the possibility of creating reports that businesses can access on our website.
• Trenton Art Festival: There is no update for this meeting. I will meet with Michelle Tanguay next week to discuss the walls
for future murals for our next meeting.
• Business Spotlight: January’s business spotlight was awarded to New Points Nutrition.
• Survey: The past survey from Beckett & Raeder was shared. It showed only 6 people responded. A different survey may
have been conducted that had more results.
9. Other/Public Comments
• McNally asked about what the Trenton DDA could do about the vacant buildings in downtown Trenton. The Trenton DDA
Board requested that the DDA Director look into purchasing buildings. DDA Director Pusino will also create a survey to
send to businesses to ask how they can assist with vacancies.
10. Next Regular Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.
26-DDA-229
11. Motion by Nestor, supported by Gaffrey to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 P.M. Motion carried.
________________________
Justin Gaffrey, Secretary
Approved, February 5, 2026