The Embassy Requests Additional $100K From City of Sedalia

The Sedalia City Council held a public hearing to kick off their meeting Monday night.

The hearing was originally pushed back due to extreme winter weather. Then to reschedule it, it was legally necessary to post notice of the new date one week before the hearing.

That brings us to March 3.

The hearing concerned a January 29 annexation request from Sedalia School District 200.

However, absolutely no comments were received and the hearing was closed by Mayor Pro Tem Tina Boggess.

That was followed by a request for additional funding from Ann Graff reference remodeling of The Embassy.

Chairman Graff, accompanied by Executive Director Jason McClain, said that more structural issues have been discovered since Council approved $50,000 in mid-July for repairs to two homes utilized by The Embassy.

The Embassy currently has two facilities in Sedalia – one at 322 W. 7th and one at 602 South Moniteau.

Graff noted that the situation at the Embassy properties are “much more extreme than we thought” and exhibited several photos taken at the properties showing the foundation, the basement and other areas of concern.

Out of the $50,000, The Embassy has so far billed Sedalia $8,357.89 with $26,872 pending, Graff said.

Soffit and fascia will be replaced in April, she said.

Cost of a new basement entrance was originally estimated at around $13,000.

The roof at 322 W. 7th needs to be replaced as well, Graff said.

The long and short of it is The Embassy is requesting an additional $100,000 for repair work to the two facilities. The money will come from an opid fund settlement account.

Mayor Pro Tem Boggess told Graff that "we will have to go back and see what funds we have left," then make a decision.

The proposed FY 2026 budget was then discussed by Interim City Administrator Matt Wirt, after a budget work session was held Feb. 24. He pointed out that expenditures currently outpaced revenues in the budget.

A $5200 fast rescue board was removed from the budget, as well as two sets of break room furniture totaling $3500.

“We’ve got to pick and choose sometimes,” commented Fourth Ward Councilwoman Rhiannon Foster.

A committal shelter requested by Cemetery Director Roger waters has been put on hold for another year due to lack of funds.

A $75,000 Drones As First Responders program was scaled back to $29,500 as a cost-cutting move.

A $50,000 item for long-term disability insurance for City workers was left in the budget.

No changes were made to the CBCD portion of the City’s  budget.

The final budget is expected to be approved at the March 17 meeting.

Nabholz Construction was approved by Council to the construction manager for the new Sedalia fire station, aquatics center and bowling alley on the east side of town.

The firm will be referred to as a “Construction Manager At Risk.” It was explained that this is the best method for efficient planning, controlling costs, better coordination, scheduling and streamlined construction on the three projects. It is hoped that the entire construction work will be done “on time, within budget and at the highest quality standards.”

Two reps from Nabholz were at the meeting, but neither spoke.

Under Public Safety, Council approved five grants for the Sedalia Police Department ($134,488 for hazardous moving violations) and $10,700 for DWI enforcement), including:

$15,000 for double-time enforcement

$6,400 for professional development through the LETSAC and Show-Me Zero conferences

$113,088 for replacing dash cameras and radar units in police cruisers

$7,500 for DWI enforcement

$3,200 for professional development for DWI and National DRE conferences

Under Community Development, Council approved (through resolution) moving the Bichsel Clock back downtown where it previously stood for 75 years at 217 South Ohio.

When the jewelry store moved from the downtown area to a shopping center in 1990 and to Winchester Drive in 2006, the clock went with the business.

Bichsel Jewelry is now closed due to the retirement of owner Mark Callis.

Robert Walters has since approached City officials, asking if they want to purchase the clock, which has been in Sedalia for 143 years, to be placed in downtown Sedalia once again.

The transaction was referred to as a “restricted donation” and will be placed near its original location downtown.

In Mayor Dawson’s absence, Mayor Pro Tem Boggess reappointed Kelvin Shaw and Tim Harris to the Galaxy West Community Improvement District for a term ending March 21, 2028.

Also absent from the 85-minute meeting Monday night was Second Ward Councilman Chris Marshall.

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Mayor Pro Tem Boggess asked Wirt about recent water breaks in the City and why there were no boil orders. He responded by saying that boil orders are issued by the DNR only after City officials report their findings to the state and the DNR deems it necessary.

If a boil order is issued, the City will place door hangers on the properties affected, Wirt noted.

Eight citizens made their voice heard during the Good & Welfare portion of the program, some of them quite angrily.

In the top photo: Embassy Chairman Graff, (wearing green) accompanied by Executive Director Jason McClain, (wearing white) address the Sedalia City Council Monday night while making a funding request of $100,000.