Mayor Williams’ Veto of Trash Contract Upheld

Monday night’s 95-minute City Council meeting led off with special awards for industrial wastewater pre-treatment went to Nucor Steel Sedalia, LLC; Stanley Black & Decker, LLC; and Maxion Wheels.

The awards were presented by Sedalia’s Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator Brittany Wilbanks to Camilla Dias, Maxion plant manager; Robert Smith, Stanley Black & Decker’s wastewater treatment technician; and Ryan Eye and Anthony Harris, Nucor’s wastewater treatment technicians.

Those three companies demonstrated exceptional commitment to compliance and received gold awards from the Missouri Water Environment Association conference held in March, Wilbanks noted.

Under unfinished business, Mayor Williams had vetoed a bill and ordinance on April 20 (first day in office) reference solid waste disposal with Show-Me Landfill, LLC, (230 SE 421st Road, Warrensburg) for the City of Sedalia.

The reason for the veto, according to the agenda, was Williams’ main objections was an increase in disposal costs, including a $2 per ton increase, with an overall economic impact of $62,000.

Other concerns of Williams’ included additional fuel costs, landfill operational hours, wear and tear on City trucks and tires, and additional travel time. Each sanitation worker would need a DOT physical every two years at a cost of $200 every time to comply with federal regulations. This would apply because the city trucks would be leaving the city limits of Sedalia to travel to Warrensburg. Plus, the department is short by one truck.

Second Ward Councilwoman Cheryl Ames suggested tabling the item until the next Council meeting.

Council voted on the matter to see if would be overridden. A  two-thirds majority was required to overrule the Mayor’s veto.

The vote was 5-3 in favor of overturning, therefore Mayor Williams’ veto was upheld (six yes votes were needed). Covington, Redford and Scribner voted not to override the veto.

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Under Finance and Administration, Council heard a plea from Matt Perry, a member of the Diamond Baseball League, to allow alcohol sales at the recently-renovated Liberty Park Stadium during those games this summer. There are six teams represented in the Diamond League.

The Sedalia Steamers are scheduled to take on the Jeff City Renegades on May 28 at 7 p.m. The Steamers purchased the former Sedalia Bombers, it was noted by Perry.

Wristbands would be required to purchase alcohol at the stadium. Perry said that the summer baseball league is a business, “and we want to that business to be profitable.”

Alcohol in the parks has only been allowed twice before, according to Parks & Rec Director Amy Epple, and that was by special request from the Sedalia Lions Club.

Councilman Bob Cross questioned Perry about the term alcohol in his request. He asked if this will include hard liquor.

“The word alcohol – that covers a lot of booze,” Cross told Perry, later adding that “I just don’t like to see alcohol served in the park.”

Perry responded that his organization has no real intentions to serve hard liquor, but does plan to serve beer and pre-packaged wine. “We try to offer that opportunity in a very safe and secure environment as part of the overall experience,” he said, adding that “we’ll have security at every ballpark.”

Mayor Pro Tem Tina Boggess said she does not approve of alcohol bring served at Liberty Park, adding that if it is allowed at Liberty, more requests will flood in wanting to serve alcohol at all the other parks in Sedalia.

The move would require an ordinance change by Council. Any changes would be drafted and brought back at a future Council meeting.

Under Public Works, Council heard a presentation from Brittany Wilbanks, water pretreatment coordinator, explaining the City’s industrial pretreatment program, which is required by federal and state statutes. It ensures compliance with the EPA and Missouri DNR.

She noted that the City treats about eight million gallons of wastewater a day, spread over three wastewater plants, and is spending over $12,000 annually in lab fees.

Sedalia currently has nine significant industrial users. They produce over 25,000 gallons of process water a day, water that touches their product, Wilbanks noted.

Council then voted on an ordinance amendment relating to sewer use regulations.

Council then voted on a permit for Mid States Specialty Eggs for wastewater discharge. There is a 30,000-gallon daily limit.

Council then approved the purchase of a Chevy Silverado 4500 for the City’s Utilities Department at a cost of $108,000.

The truck will have a service bed and crane, and will be purchased from Heavy Equipment, LLC. The new truck will replace on older one from 2003. It was estimated the new truck will save the City close to $35,000, because the truck will allow for pump preventive maintenance services in house.

The City’s Utilities Department is requesting to apply for a DHSS (Department of Health & Senior Services) ODH (office of Dental Health) grant to fund the replacement of the water plant’s fluoridation system. If approved and awarded, the grant would reimburse $16,634 to fully replace the current system with modern equipment.

A new system would enhance safety for operators, automate processes and improve containment of hydrofluorosilicic acid.

Hydrofluorosilicic acid is a colorless, highly corrosive fuming liquid primarily used for water fluoridation and in industrial applications like metal treating and cleaning.

It is a byproduct of phosphate fertilizer production, commonly supplied as a 23–25% solution. It is dangerous, causing severe skin burns, eye damage, and releasing toxic fumes.

Another grant, this time through West Central Missouri Solid Waste Management District Region F, was requested by the Public Works Operations Division for installation for the City’s glass recycling initiative.

In 2025, the City successfully secured grant funding for the construction on a concrete pad and containment walls.

The current grant request would pay for most of the electrical installation needed to power the equipment.

The total cost of the project is $30,921, and the grant would pay for $26,282.85, leaving the City to pay for the remainder of $4,638.15.

Public Works requested rejection of a contract with S & A Equipment and Builders, LLC, for sidewalk replacement. The contract (Ordinance #12392) was originally awarded on Jan. 5.

According to the agenda, circumstances have arisen that will prevent the project from proceeding as originally planned.

The company is already engaged in several projects across the city, including four storm drainage projects and the North Central Neighborhood sidewalk initiative.

The City plans to return later with a new contract to allow for optimum quality, scheduling and capacity.

Under Community Development, a records destruction request by Code Enforcement was granted by Council.

Records include commercial blueprints prior to 2016, residential plans prior to 2021 and miscellaneous plan review documents prior to 2024.

Two liquor license renewals were approved, including:

*Jessica Degen dba El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant, 1400 South Limit, Suite #1, for liquor by the drink and Sunday sales, $750

*Garrett Volker dba Volker’s 1021 South Limit, for liquor by the drink and Sunday sales, $750

One new liquor license was approved:

*Paige Shearer dba The Local Tap, 700 South Ohio, for Yeager’s Bike Night on May 8 at 3001 South Limit, $15

Under Miscellaneous, City Administrator Mat Wirt gave an update on the Washington Avenue Bridge repair.

Parts are expected to arrive this week, or by the first of next week. That part of the job is expected to be completed by May 31.

Also, the walkway needs to be inspected, especially underneath, before it is reopened.

Under Good and Welfare, seven citizens spoke their minds, including Rene Vance, Gary Lobaugh, Jeff Haynes, Heather Slagle, Debbie Covington, Harry Hoffert and Sandy Jeffers.

Vance promoted upcoming events at the Sedalia Senior Center, such as a chicken dinner on May 21, a gala on Jun 16 with the theme “Down On The Farm.” The event will honor three area seniors – Pat Franken, Mary Ann Thompson and Doris Thurston. Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight. Sponsored by GoAging.org.

Vance is running as a Democrat for the Missouri House District 52.

Lobaugh urged the Council to move the Good & Welfare portion of the program to an early slot on the agenda. “Give the people the right to speak before (you vote),” Lobaugh said.

“We will talk about this further,” promised Mayor Williams.

Haynes, the owner-operator of Hank’s Septic Service, complained about a 12 cent per gallon price increase. “The average septic tank is a thousand gallons. That’s $120. And when you have places I might haul 10- to 20,000-gallons a  week from these locations. That adds up very, very quickly. Just for reference, Cole Camp charges $5 per 1,000 gallons. Now I understand they don’t have the overhead that Sedalia does. But that does kind of put in in perspective.”

Slagle complained about former City Administrator Kelvin Shaw, saying she wants to revisit Shaw’s retirement package, “this issue is kind of ongoing, and it’s never been resolved. And if we’re going to move forward in accountability and transparency, we have to start somewhere,” Slagle said. “I’m gonna keep talking about it, until we have it resolved. And if there’s any holdovers, please see yourselves out, because we’re done dealing with all this nonsense. I’m done dealing with it … let’s have a fair & honest investigation and let’s move forward with accountability,” Slagle concluded.

Covington said she feels that things will get smoother with the new administration. She said she feels that Good & Welfare should be moved to the beginning of the meeting. “Then you all can takes the public’s input in, when you’re voting on these bills,” she said, adding that she still wants to see the repeal of ordinance #1224, which she dubbed the “anti-free speech ordinance.”

Hoffert expressed his concerns about flooding in the basement of a neighbor’s house in the 1400 block of South Barrett with sewer water. “The backflow is bad,” he noted. “We helped her clean it out. It was nasty.” Hoffert encouraged the City to do some investigating “on where the water pressure’s coming from out of the storm drain to push sewer water through a bad backflow into this lady’s house … she’s really getting upset.”

Sandy Jeffers complained her trash is not getting picked up at her house in the 800 block of West 3rd Street, especially when it sits too close to a neighbor’s parked car.

Two service awards and three retirement awards were postponed until the next Council meeting.