One service award led off Monday night's regular City Council meeting. Alex Tsurkan, a Sedalia Firefighter with 10 years of service, was presented with a certificate from Sedalia Fire Chief Matt Irwin.

Tsurkan's family attended the meeting. Chief Irwin noted that Tsurkan is the first-ever Slavic firefighter employed by the City of Sedalia.

"He broke that barrier with the department .. and helped bridge the department with another section of the community that we really didn't have," Irwin said. "Also with his hiring, it opened up for many more members of the Slavic community to join the Sedalia Fire Department, or take our Firefighter I and II class and move on to other fire departments ... I really enjoy Alex, he's a great guy. Sometimes we don't always see eye to eye, but we get through that."

Under Finance and Administration, Bothwell Regional Health Center presented its annual audit report to Council to illustrate the hospital's financial condition.

The presentation was done by BRHC CEO Lori Wightman and CFO Steve Davis.

Wightman explained that from 2019 to 2022, the cost of doing business at Bothwell has increased 30.6 percent, citing severe blows from COVID-19 and the Delta and Omicron variants as major factors in the hospital's plunge in financial stability.

She added that Bothwell is trying to rectify the situation by reducing expenses, increasing revenue opportunities and begging for money.

David noted that Bothwell received three rounds of financial relief from the CARES Act.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or as the CARES Act, is a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the 116th U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 27, 2020, in response to the economic fallout of the COVID disease.

Bothwell received $6 million in fiscal year 2020, $7 million in 2021 and $4.7 million this year.

"Those federal funds did what they were meant to do," Davis stated twice.

A cash analysis provided by Bothwell to Council showed that in 2018, the hospital had 7.5 years of cash remaining.

The figure plummeted to 1.8 years in 2019, shot back up to 7.0 years in 2020, and again deflated to .09 years in 2021.

This fiscal year shows 2.4 years remaining.

Council then passed a resolution and ordinance to authorize a change in budgeted expenditures for fiscal year 2022-23 relating to the Library Personnel and Supply expenses, moving funds from full-time to part-time employees.

Council then approved an ordinance to purchase five acres of property at 627 E. 5th at the Katy Crossing at $25,000 per acre, for a total purchase price of $125,000.

Council then approved the sale of Real Estate at Spring Fork Lake to Agrarian Technology Development, Company, LLC. The company has agreed to pay $400,000 to extend the closing period to March, when construction can begin. Councilwoman Foster was the lone no vote.

This was followed by a presentation by “Stay Pay” to deal with the “Great Resignation” affecting the retention of city employees.

Under Public Works, Council approved a change order for repair or replacement of pitless adapter water well #19 by the Flynn Drilling Company at a cost of $39,113.

Under Community Development, Council approved changing the name of a portion of North Moniteau to W.T. Morris Avenue. No protests were received by the City, it was noted.

The name change affects the section from West Main to West Clay.

Under Public Safety, Council approved a school resource officer (SRO) cooperative agreement with Sedalia School District 200 and the Sedalia Police Department for the Smith-Cotton Junior High campus. A Memorandum of Understanding

Council awarded a $58,378.88 bid to Discount Directionals for crowd control barricades.

Under Appointments:

*Dana Foster will complete Susan Mitchell Callis' term ending June 30, 2023 on the Sedalia Public Library Board.

*Second Ward Councilman Chris Marshall will serve on the Sedalia Redevelopment Corporation Board of Directors, completing Jeff Leeman's term ending November of 2022.

*Fourth Ward Councilwoman Rhiannon Foster will serve on the Sedalia Redevelopment Corporation Board of Directors, completing Mayor Andrew Dawson's term ending October, 2023.

*Former Third Ward Councilman Lucas Richardson will serve on the Sedalia Redevelopment Corporation Board of Directors, completing Chris Marshall's term ending November 2022.

*Erica Eisenmenger will serve on the Sedalia Area Tourism Commission through Dec. 31, 2026.

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Under Liquor Licenses:

*Marcial Limas dba State Fair Floral, 520 South Ohio, approved for a picnic license for a Ducks Unlimited Banquet on the Missouri State Fairgrounds, scheduled for Oct. 15.

Seven liquor license renewals were approved, including:

*Janice Ulmer, dba Sedalia Elks Lodge 125, 320 South Kentucky, for liquor by the drink and Sunday Sales, $750

*Theresa R. Moore dba Rudy's Discount Smoke Shop, 3040 W. Broadway, Suite 220, for packaged liquor and Sunday Sales, $450

*Paul Beykirch dba County Distributing Company, Inc., 1800 Eagleview Drive, Wholesale Beer, $50

*Kevin Long dba Loyal Order of the Moose #1494, 119 Winchester Drive, for liquor by the drink, $450

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

*Chancey Sherman dba Chance's R Bar & Grill, 303 South Lamine, for liquor by the drink and Sunday Sales, $750

*Jennifer Edwards dba End Zone Sports Bar & Grill, LLC, 3129 W. Broadway, for liquor by the drink and Sunday Sales, $750

This was City Clerk Arlene Silvey's final meeting, as she is retiring.

Council then adjourned to closed-door session.

They will meet again Oct. 17.

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