Smith, Aragon Recognized for Years of Service at Sedalia Police Department

Monday night’s 80-minute Sedalia City Council meeting led off with two service awards.

Records technician Tammy Smith was recognized for 20 years with the SPD, while Patrolman Matthew Aragon was recognized for five years of service by SPD Chief David Woolery.

Smith began as an animal control officer in 2005. She transferred to the SPD’s Records Division in 2017. Chief Woolery referred to Smith as the department’s “accident report guru.”

Woolery noted that “since the beginning of her career, Tammy has demonstrated a love for our community and our department. We are very lucky to have her on our team.”

Officer Aragon started serving with the SPD on Sept. 21, 2020. Chief Woolery said that Aragon has worked the night shift, taking on several ancillary assignments along the way. He is also a DARE officer, and a member of the department’s Special Response Team (SRT).

Next on the agenda was a presentation by a Green Ridge High School student promoting a “Show Me Smoke Free Campaign” and “Next To Rise.”

Heath Snethen is a junior at Green Ridge and presented a slide show to help raise awareness for the need for comprehensive tobacco smoke and vape-free areas for workers and families in Missouri

Next To Rise is a statewide youth engagement program funded by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Snethen said that Missouri’s Clean Indoor Air Law of 1992 need to be updated to include E-cigarettes and vaping for all public areas and all workplaces. The same applies to Sedalia and Pettis County, he said.

Snethen noted that smoke-free laws in Sedalia could save $10.14 million.

He added that he is not trying to take away citizens’ right to smoke, but rather ensure the health of those who do not soke or vape.

Under Finance and Administration, Council approved a request from EDSPC to waive the building permit fees for their new headquarters, currently being built at the Thompson Meadows Industrial Park.

A similar request from SFCC President Dr. Brent Bates to waive the  building permit fees for the remodeling of a coffee shop on campus met with opposition from Second Ward Councilman Lee Scribner.

The request was tabled until the next regular Council meeting on Oct. 20 until more information can be gathered about the project, located in the Donald Proctor Library.

Council then approved funding for renewal of the City’s Sophos system, which provides monitoring and virus protection for the City’s IT infrastructure. The cost for renewal is $55,253.01, which is $7,429 above the budgeted amount. A budget amendment was required. The vote was six yes votes, one recusal (Councilwoman Franklin) and one absent (Mayor Pro Tem and Fourth Ward Councilwoman Foster).

Under Public Works, Council heard two presentations -- one from Cemetery Director Roger Waters and one from Airport Director Mitch Mullen.

In his presentation, Waters gave an overview of the services offered at Crown Hill Cemetery, which was founded in February of 1866 and currently has 25,010 gravesites in use. About 1900 more are available, he said.

Crown Hill buries on average 70 people a year. However, this year that figure was 76 as of the end of September.

About 70 acres have to be mowed all summer and fall at Crown Hill, Waters noted, with the bagging of grass and leaves as needed.

In the winter, his crew is busy with snow removal, tree trimming, equipment maintenance and straightening headstones.

Waters and his crew also oversee and maintain Calvary Cemetery (located within Crown Hill) and the Hebrew Cemetery on South Grand.

Future plans call for a columbarium to be purchased and installed with double occupancy niches.

A committal shelter is in the planning and design stage, Waters added. He is also requesting cameras be installed at Crown Hill.

Nest up was a presentation from Sedalia Regional Airport Manager Mitch Mullen.

Mullen replaced former airport manager Derrick Dodson three months ago. Dodson served as airport manager since late 2020.

Sedalia Regional Airport, with two runways, handles between 8,000 and 11,000 operations per year. It has a total of 18 hangars (13 T-hangars and 5 box hangars), containing 20 aircraft, two twin-engines, 17 single engine aircraft and one jet.

Four more box hangars are located at the airport, but are privately owned and under a lease deal with the City.

The most recent figures from MoDOT concerning the economic impact of Sedalia Regional Airport on the Pettis County area are from 2012 and show $3,629,000 per year.

The north parallel taxiway and the northern 500 feet of runway rehabilitation of 18/36 is set to begin Oct. 20, Mullen said.
An environmental assessment of the wetlands in the area will cost $100,000 for a future south parallel taxiway project, which is expected to begin sometime in 2026.

Council approved a concrete containment wall for the City’s Sanitation Department, through a West Central Missouri Soid Watse Management  District F grant.

The cost is $71,035, with the City coming up with $10,655.25. All work will be performed by City crews.

Under Public Safety, the SFD applied for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $65,900, with the City putting up $5,990.91. That will be enough to purchase a  Plymovent engine exhaust system for the fire station. The system is designed to capture and remove harmful diesel exhaust fumes directly from a fire apparatus when it idles inside the fire station bay. The vote was seven yes, one absent (Foster).

Under Community Development, Council approved an open container waiver for the Sedalia Lions Club for an event scheduled for Oct. 25 from 12 to 7 p.m., in downtown Sedalia called a Lions Club Wine Stroll.

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One new liquor license was approved for Paige Shearer dba The Local Tap, 700 South Ohio, for “Oktoberfest” on Oct. 18 from 3 to 8 p.m.

Two renewals were approved:

Janice Ulmer dba Sedalia Elks Lodge 125, 320 South Kentucky, for liquor by eth drink and Sunday sales, $750

Hunter Bunker dba State Fair Spirits, LLC, 1419 South Limit, for packaged liquor, Sunday sales and a tasting permit, $487.50

After Good & Welfare, Council adjourned to closed-door session.

Council meets again Oct. 20.