Monday marked the last day of the Kehde administration and the start of the Dawson administration for the City of Sedalia.

Council chambers were full, and extra chairs were brought in to accommodate the crowd.

Mayor Kehde served one four-year term and had no desire to run for reelection, he has said previously.

Andrew Dawson ran unopposed in the April 5 election. He resigned his Second Ward post Monday night moments before being sworn in as Sedalia's new mayor.

Two public hearings concerning the annexation of property at 2845 South New York, owned by Michael and Katie Fisher, and 28th and New York, in Pettis County, received zero comments at the start of the meeting.

The Fishers submitted a petition to voluntarily annex their commercial property to receive city utilities and other services.

The other property in question adjoins the Fisher property (Fisher Concrete and Foundation Repair) and is part of the City's sewer operations. It was noted that part of the operation sits inside the city limits and part of it is outside. It was decided to annex both properties and bring them into the city limits. The public hearing is required by state statute, even if no comments are received.

It was then Bob Hiller's turn to address the Council and present a $19,907.24 check to Sedalia Police Chief Matt Wirt to use to fund the Sedalia DARE program. The money, which was raised at the April 2 DARE Car Show, included two scholarships to local students from Sacred Heart and Smith-Cotton. This was the 31st annual for the cars show, Hiller noted.

He also noted that $10,000 of the proceeds came from a donation from the Hayden Freedom Foundation Trust.

Hiller said that this year's show was held in memory of the late Shorty Akers, a racing buddy of Hiller's.

Out of 135 total entries at the car show, 42 percent of them came from outside Sedalia, Hiller pointed out. He went on to tell Council that the City does not appropriate any money for the Sedalia DARE program, and that the program is the best endowed in Missouri, and is one of the top six DARE programs in the nation.

Visitors could vote on their favorite car or truck or motorcycle by a penny per vote. A total of $3,000 was raised by this method, Hiller said. There was also a silent auction at the event.

City Finance Director Dawn Jennings Gave a brief presentation on sales tax figures from March.

Sales tax was down 2% for March, use tax was up 15.4%, franchise and cigarette tax was up 23%, property tax collections were up, 128.3% as were transportation taxes .8 %.

“So for the month of March we ended up 4.4% higher than the previous March,” Jennings said.

“Fiscal year to date, we were 13.4% up in sales tax, 15.5% up in use tax, down 1.8% in franchise and cigarette tax, up 10.8% in transportation tax and up 6.8% in property tax, for a total of 10.4% up in tax collected from the previous year. And if you'll recall, that we budgeted for a 2% increase, so we came in well above that,” Jennings told the Council.

Council then extended the sunset clause for the Bothwell Regional Health Center Board of Trustees through April 30, 2023.

In 2018, the Council adopted an ordinance to add the Mayor and City Administrator to the hospital's board of trustees. The ordinance contained a sunset clause aimed at having the Council review that provision in 2020, and it was decided to continue. The sunset clause was extended in 2020 and again in 2021. Staff said that the collaboration strengthens the relationship between the hospital and city governance.

Council then adopted an ordinance concerning a five-year capital improvement plan (CIP). The plan is reviewed and updated annually, it was noted. A meeting concerning that topic is scheduled for April 25.

There were two items under Public Safety.

City Administrator Kelvin Shaw gave a presentation about transitioning the Firefighters Retirement Fund into LAGERS (Local Area Government Employee Retirement System).

Council then voted 8-0 to purchase a replacement fire truck for the SFD. The Spartan Metro Star Custom Pumper, will be purchased through Feld Fire Equipment (Grain Valley) at a cost of $746,140, which is within the budgeted amount of $750,000. The price reflects a totally prepaid order, according to the company, and includes a two-year warranty.

Delivery of the new truck will be 440 days from receipt of the order, Fire Chief Matt Irwin noted.

This was the first full vote of the night, due to connection problems experienced at the start of the meeting by Third Ward Councilman Lucas Richardson.

Under Public Works, Council approved the purchase of two stand-up commercial mowers from Otten Small Engine, 2617 E. Broadway, at a cost of $16,848 for the Public Works Department.

Council approved the purchase of a 2022 International HV607 rear-loading refuse truck from Elliott Equipment (Grandview) for the Sanitation Department at a cost of $179,965. The truck comes with a color camera system and strobe lights, among other amenities. The sanitation truck is immediately available from the Grandview location.

Council approved the purchase of a Gravely Pro-Turn 672 Commercial mower from Otten Small Engine at a cost of $13,236.44 for the Sedalia Water Department.

Council then approved the purchase of a tow-behind air compressor from Foley Equipment (Wichita, Kansas) for $14,670 after trade-in of two 1994 Sullair Air compressors, worth $9,200 (Original price was $23,870).

Council then approved extending a contract with Hansen's Tree, Lawn and Landscaping Services (O'Fallon) for yard waste grinding at a cost of $33,175. They will grind an estimated 11,500 cubic yards of material from April 1 through March 31.

Roughly $257,000 was spent during the Public Works portion of the agenda.

Council renewed two liquor licenses Monday night, including:

*Nicole Walker dba Broadway Liquor an Sales, 2610 W. Broadway, for packaged liquor, Sunday sales and taste testing for $487.50

*Brett Sorrell dba VFW Post 2591, 121 South Ohio, for liquor by the drink, $450

Council then adjourned Sine Die and outgoing Mayor John Kehde was presented with a plaque and a speech from incoming Mayor Andre Dawson.

Kehde also received accolades from Administrator Shaw and friend David Curry.

Dawson officially became Mayor of the City of Sedalia at 7:40 p.m.

Tina Boggess, Rhiannon Foster, Lucas Richardson and Jack Robinson were then sworn into office by City Clerk Arlene Silvey.

Richardson and Robinson were both appearing remotely Monday night online.

Robinson ran unopposed to take the seat of former First Ward Councilman Jeff Leeman.

Richardson ran unopposed to retain his Third Ward seat.

Foster ran unopposed to retain her Fourth Ward seat.

Incumbent Boggess beat challenger Chris Marshall in the April 5 election, 149-94. But Marshall ended up seated next to Boggess Monday night after he was appointed to the position by Mayor Andrew Dawson. Marshall was sworn in by City Clerk Silvey.

It was then time to elect a Mayor Pro Tem. Nominated were first Ward Councilman Tom Oldham, who nominated himself, and Second Ward Councilwoman Boggess, nominated by Fourth Ward Councilman Steve Bloess. Each Council member cast their vote.

After several frustrating minutes of losing audio connection, Robinson was able to call in his vote.

The final tally was split 4-4, with Robinson, Cross, Oldham and Marshall voting for Oldham, and Foster, Bloess, Boggess and Richardson voting for Boggess.

Cross made his decision to vote for Oldham as a result of an impromptu coin toss.

That left it up to Mayor Dawson to cast the tie-breaking vote, which went to Boggess. She is now Mayor Pro Tem and will serve in Dawson's place when the mayor is not available.

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