Historic Landmark Designation Irks Some at Council Meeting

The Sedalia City Council met on April Fools Day and led off with nominating the Ozark Music Festival site (July 19-21, 1974) as a historic landmark.

The Sedalia Historic Preservation Commission, along with City Staff reviewed a request to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the music festival and decided that the site meets the criteria for a designation. Community Development Director John Simmons noted that no City funds were spent on the plaque. He added that the resolution simply states that "something significant took place at that site."

Public comments were encouraged.

Fourth Ward Councilman Steve Bloess commented as a "private citizen" and wants Dr. Campbell and his efforts to save lives mentioned on the plaque, also.

David Covington objected to the phrase "Sodom and Gomorrah" as a way to describe the music festival on the state fairgrounds, which drew at least 160,000 to Sedalia.

"I'm not from Sedalia, but I live here now," he said, "and we're better than that. There's a lot of rich history here."

Gary Lobaugh wanted to add the phrase "but never again" to the end of it.

Simmons noted that Dr. Doug Kiburz spearheaded the effort. The request went to the Historic Preservation Committee, then on to Planning and Zoning, then to full Council.

A resolution was passed by Council later in the meeting under Community Development.

Under Public Safety, Fire Chief Matt Irwin gave yet another presentation concerning the closure of Washington Street Bridge and the potential placement of a satellite fire station on the north side of the railroad tracks to improve response time. He offered four options to Council, along with price tags.

Under Public Works, a supplemental grant agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission was approved concerning the Liberty Park to Katy Depot “Connect Sedalia” project. A one-year extension of the timeline for performance was granted due to the complexity of current projects.

The City applied for a Transportation Enhancement Grant. It will create 5,983 linear feet of hard surface that will be located adjacent to City streets. The 10-foot-wide trail will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to stay off the roadway and increase overall safety. The estimated cost of the project is $1 million, and will include safety gates, lighting and signage.

A $6,000 change order for Engineering Surveys and Services was approved by Council for small sanitary sewer projects in the City. This brings the total project cost to $28,000.

Easements for WireCo were accepted in accordance with a sanitary sewer extension, with two permanent ones and one temporary.

Crown Hill Cemetery Director Roger Waters has indicated that hiring seasonal help for his department has been an ongoing issue for a few years now. In an effort to solve the issue, Waters sought bids from lawn care services to perform the necessary work. Rubio Lawn and Tree Services, LLC, (Marshall) was the winning bidder. It will cost the City $4500 per occurrence (about every two weeks) to hire the lawn care firm to perform weed-eating duties. The work is expected to be performed generally from April through November.

Waters noted that he does have two or three students who come work for him at the cemetery, but they are only available after school lets out for the summer.

"We need it in April and we need it in May, before Memorial Day," Waters told Council. With the staffing that we've had, it's taken us three weeks to get to everything."

Third Ward Councilman Hiller expressed his gratitude to Rogers and his crew for maintaining the gravesites at Crown Hill.

A request to annex property located at 5940 W. 32nd Street by Serhii Shenderuk and Susanna Shenderuk was approved by Council. The move will allow the Shenderuks to hook into the City's water system.

Council approved a bid & lease agreement with hay production on City properties, bringing in revenue from Joshua Stevenson -- $720, Zimmer Farms, LLC -- $3750, David Murray – $4344.44, and Craig Cattle Farms – $7227.

Specifically, those properties are located at the North and Central Wastewater Treatment Plants, 28200 Water Works Road, the Rail Spur, the Sedalia Animal Shelter, Spring Fork Lake and the old City landfill.

Total amount generated comes to $16,041.44 for the three-year agreements.

The City was successful in obtaining a grant to implement several stormwater projects. Staff recommended approval of the agreement to move forward. The City will match the federal money in the amount of $662,396.40.

Council approved using an owner's agent to represent the City's best interest in sorting through the various options when it comes to replacing the North Wastewater Treatment Plant and upgrade the Central Plant with a $60 million loan from Missouri's revolving fund. HDR, Inc., was ultimately chosen. The initial cost in the first phase is $77,902.

Under Community Development, Council approved the placement of a marker commemorating the site of the 1974 Ozark Music Festival.

A Paul Bruhn sub-recipient grant agreement was also approved by Council for replacement and repair of roofing at 708 and 710 South Ohio. The owner pays $15,793.58 and the grant pays $52,874.16 for a total project amount of $68,666.74.

Interim Chief of Police David Wolery was named Sedalia's Chief of Police. His new badge was pinned on him by his wife Amy Harrison Woolery.

Chief Woolery later gave Council a detailed strategic plan for the Sedalia Police Department.

Two liquor license renewals were then approved by Council, including:

*Angela Lee dba Casey's General Store #4277, 1101 North Limit, for packaged liquor and Sunday sales, $450

*Nicole Walker dba Broadway Liquor and Smokes, 2610 West Broadway, for packaged liquor and Sunday sales, $450

During Good & Welfare, many citizens came forward to voice their

Council then adjourned to closed-door session for matters relating to legal advice, Real Estate and negotiated contracts. They returned several minutes later to approve a quit claim deed for the sale of property 515 E. 25th Street to Maxim and Victoria Kondrachuk.