Storm Joins Sedalia Fire Department

The Sedalia Fire Department added one more firefighter to its ranks Monday night after Caden Storm was presented with his badge by SFD Chief Matt Irwin and pinned by his mother Vicky during a brief ceremony held at a Sedalia City Council meeting.

Storm came to Sedalia in January from the Holt’s Summit Fire Protection District, Chief Irwin said.

“In eight short months, (Caden) blew through all our probationary packets, all of our EMT classes. I also got to sit in with him during a Hazmat Technician Class, which is a pretty lengthy and tough class, and he breezed through that very well,” Irwin told the Council. “I have high hopes for Mr. Storm.”

In her presentation to Council, Financial Director Jessica Pyle noted that net sales and use tax fiscal year to date are higher by around $116,000, or 1.2 percent. However, “we had budgeted for a four percent increase, so we are still below budget by around $275,000,” Pyle said.

As for marijuana tax, this year’s figures are up by about $11,000.

Franchise tax is significantly lower primarily due to a lower electricity tax, which is down by $204,000.

Transportation tax is higher than last year, primarily due to the gasoline tax, which is up 10.8 percent.

Vehicles sales tax figures are flat, she noted.

Pyle’s presentation was followed by a update on economic development provided by EDSPC Executive Director Jessica Craig.

Craig’s Powerpoint presentation focused on EDSPC’s new headquarters at 101 Curry Drive in the Thompson Meadows Industrial Park (TMIP).

Ground was broken April 17, and Craig expects construction on the new building to be completed by by Oct. 30.  She noted that 90 percent of the funding for the new headquarters came from Bill Shumake. “No public funds were used for the new headquarters at 101 Curry Drive,” Craig emphasized.

There are still 85 acres still available at TMIP. An extension of Pelham Drive is under way, Craig noted. Several pipeline projects are in the works and being developed and refined on a daily basis in the background.

Upon completion of her update, Craig requested a waiver of building permit fees and water connection fees for the new building. Her request will be decided at the next Council meeting, which will be Oct. 6.

EDSPC is currently headquartered at the Lamy’s Building in downtown Sedalia.

Under Public Works, Council approved a bid from Earthworks Excavation and Associates, LLC, of Higginsville, for $925,877.34 for the Grand Avenue Water Main Replacement project.

Council then approved a staff request to apply for a no-match grant from the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program in the amount of $600,000.

The federal initiative supports early-stage costs such as planning, studies and engineering. In this case, it will apply to long-range plans to relocate and replace the dormant Washington Street Bridge.

Washington Street Bridge has been shut down since February 29, 2024, following a routine inspection by (MODOT) that revealed significant structural issues.

Repairs will be made to the existing bridge regardless of any future construction plans for a new bridge that spans Union Pacific Railroad.

Council approved the removal of two stops sign and the addition of one Monday night.

The east-west stop signs at Reine Avenue and Greissen Road will be removed and one stop sign will be added at North Cedar Drive, Reine and Greissen. This is due to road construction in the area. The Citizen’s Traffic Advisory Commission voted 7-0 in favor of both changes, it was noted.

The City of Sedalia will use Certificates Of Participation (COP) to finance the new bowling alley-fire station-fire training facility on the east side of town. COPs will be used as a tool to allow Sedalia to lease the property in question to a trustee and then lease it back, with the City making annual payments.

The new ordinance authorizes up to $18.5 million in financing, with a payoff of no later than 2045. It may be paid off as early as 2036, it was noted.

A public hearing designed to receive comments on Tax-exempt Certificates of Participation at the top of the meeting received no comments.

Closely related to that project is an agreement with Nabholz Construction for a guaranteed maximum price of $13,942,276. That figure does not reflect the full cost of the project, it should be noted, as it covers the construction work, but does not include designing, engineering, testing, furnishings, fixtures, equipment and other costs.

Council then approved an extension of a contract with Hansen’s Tree Service at a cost of $49,875 for grinding approximately 18,000 cubic yards of yard waste at the City’s Material Management Site.

Under Public Safety, Council authorized the SPD to apply for a State Homeland Security Program Counter Terrorism Officer Equipment Grant.

If the grant is awarded it will pay for 50 first aid kits with a grand total cost of $6,500 ($130 each).

The SPD also wants to apply for a Local Violent Crime Prevention Grant.

The $21,470.29 grant would pay for a hi-def “Transformer” video surveillance system, and a Motorola APXB000 radio.

Also, the SPD requested that the Council approve adjusting the pay structure for officers working special events.

Currently, officers are paid $35 an hour, collected through a police commander.

Under the new system, officers would be paid $45 an hour. The event organizers would be charged $58.72 an hour, which will cover salary, benefits, taxes and worker’s comp.

Sedalia Police also wish to purchase a “LiveScan Booking and Applicant Workstation for the Municipal Court. The cost is $20,299 and will be funded through a biometrics fund, which is supported by collecting court fees. There are sufficient funds to cover the cost, staff said.

Get our free mobile app

Under Community Development, a request to rezone property at 705 South Park from R-1 to R-2, was approved by Council.

Planning & Zoning voted in favor, 4-1.

Council voted in favor, with 6 yes votes, one no vote (Foster) and one absent (Scribner).

“I have issues with it,” said Mayor Pro Tam Rhiannon Foster, who attended the meeting online.

One new liquor license was approved Monday night. A picnic license was approved for the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce for their Piccadilly event on Thursday night at Foundry 324, $37.50.

Five liquor licenses were renewed Monday night near the end of the one-hour meeting.

*Christopher Rand dba Rudy’s Discount Smoke Shop, 3040 West Broadway, for liquor by the drink and Sunday sales, $450

*Honor Villalobos dba Kehde’s BBQ of Sedalia, LLC, 1915 South Limit, for liquor by the drink and Sunday Sales, $750

*Kevin Long dba Loyal Order of the Moose #1494, 1119 Winchester Drive, for liquor by the drink and Sunday Sales, $750

*Minerva Perez-Marin dba El Tapatio, 3000 South Limit, for liquor by the drink and Sunday Sales, $750

*Jenna Gier dba State Fair Eagle Stop, 1515 Thompson Blvd., for packed liquor and Sunday sales, $450

Under Miscellaneous from the Mayor and Council, Second Ward Councilwoman Tina Boggess credited David Davis and Ed Clarady for mowing the tall grass in the area of Jackson, Hill and Walnut.

Third Ward Councilman Bob Cross praised Duke Manufacturing for donating two stainless steel tables to the Sedalia Animal Shelter to use when animals are recovering from surgery.

Under Good and Welfare, Rene Vance thanked the Council for their support of the Sedalia Senior Center’s Spud Sale, held Thursday, Sept. 18. She also mentioned an upcoming event at Freddy’s on Monday that will also benefit the Sedalia Senior Center.

Council then adjourned to closed-door session.