Sedalia Council Approves Emergency Purchase to Fix Wastewater Pump

The Sedalia City Council approved an emergency purchase of maintenance parts Monday night from DXP SuperCenter (Lenexa, Kan.) for one of the Cascade pumps at the North Wastewater Treatment Plant at a cost of $23,160.

According to a memo from Public Works Director Brenda Ardrey to Finance Director Kelvin Shaw, it has been over 18 years since three of the six pumps at the plant have been serviced.

“These pumps are synchronized and all six pumps are required for proper operation of the plant. Industry standards show that once repaired, these pumps should again serve the plant for up to 20 years,” Ardrey said. “Replacement of all six pumps would likely exceed $600,000. Therefore, repair is the preferred alternative to replacement.”

Estimated time for repair is eight weeks.

Also on Monday night, the Council tabled an ordinance requesting the monthly limit be raised on water used by the Public Water Supply District No. 1 (Pettis, John and Saline counties). The reason for the request was to avoid an automatic rate increase that kicks in if the current limit is exceeded, explained Water Department Manager Charles Brosch.

The current rate is $4.97 per 1,000 gallons. The rate nearly doubles to $9.94 if overall consumption goes over the monthly limit, he said.

Currently, that monthly amount is limited to 900,000 gallons. The request was for an increase of 150,000 for a total monthly amount of 1,050,000. The reason behind that request is a new 35-home subdivision being developed as Reserved Development, LLC. The Public Water District's attorney sent a letter to Brosch requesting a change in the contract, which was originally agreed to in 2005 and amended in 2006 and 2007. They are currently using less than 500,000 gallons per month.

Jack Robinson serves as board president for the Board of Public Works.

Also at Monday night's meeting, Council granted a special use permit to Burns Chapel Free Will Baptist Church for a manufactured home to be placed on the property at 217 and 221 East Pettis. The home will be used as a parsonage.

The Council also okayed a “Deaf Child Area” sign to be placed in front of 1118 E. 13th.

Council also accepted an agreement for the implementation of a strategic plan for the Sedalia Police Department by the Rejis Commission.

Also, the Council killed an agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc., for the purchase of tasers for the Police Department during its pre-council meeting. The original agreement was for five tasers to be sold to the City. According to Mayor Stephen J. Galliher, the salesmen who originally approached the City and quoted a price in June no longer works for the company, based out of Scottsdale, Ariz. The company, in the meantime, wants to sell the City 10, not five tasers. The quote listed in the Council's packet was for nearly $6,000.

A liquor license request was tabled on the advice of City Counselor Anne Gardner. The request was made by Ann Adams, representing the Sedalia Lions Club for an upcoming event scheduled for March 17. Gardner wanted to make sure that Adams was applying for the correct temporary license appropriate for the St. Pat's Day event.

Recognized, but not in attendance at Monday's regular meeting, were two city employees. Firefighter Timothy Borden has served five years thus far on the Sedalia Fire Department, while Ronald T. Bell has retired as an equipment operator for the Sedalia Street Department after 18 years, one month of service.

Also noted at the meeting was an upcoming general election to be held April 3. Sedalia will elect a mayor, as well as a councilman from each of the City's four wards.

Filing for those seats starts at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 12, and ends Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 5 p.m., according to City Clerk Arlene Silvey.

Finally, the Council met in closed session after the regular meeting concluded to work out terms of an agreement with Finance Director and Interim City Administrator Kelvin Shaw to serve full-time as City Administrator. Shaw was named interim administrator after the departure of Gary Edwards. Council will be asked to formally accept the agreement in a public meeting on Monday, Nov.13