Yes-Yes Campaign Faces Sedalia Voters On Tuesday

Steve Bloess, who's been campaigning steadily and tirelessly for passage of the Heckart Community Center ballot issue, made a last-minute pitch for the project at Monday's City Council meeting.

Bloess has been on the Yes-Yes campaign trail since a special election was announced in early May.

The ballot measure proposes a one-eighth-cent sales tax increase for public parks and storm water control. The special election will also ask voters to remove the sunset clause from an existing capital improvement sales tax.

The cost of the community center would not exceed $20 million. The increase in funding will pay for the principal, but not the rest of the cost.

Sue Heckart aims to honor the memory of Bill and Stella Heckart by giving back to the community, and help make a desire of her parents come true, Heckart said on May 6.

Her proposal is to pay the interest on bonds, with naming rights to the community center. The only stipulation was that the project be completed in time for the 20th anniversary of Stella's death, March 18, 2021.

If approved by voters Tuesday, the sales tax will increase from three-eights to one-half cent. The extra one-eight center is estimated to bring in an additional $655,000 annually to the City to help fund construction costs through debt service, explained City Administrator Kelvin Shaw.

The site for the Heckart Community Center is the former site of Jennie Jaynes Stadium at Liberty Park.

In the top photo: Steve Bloess speaks with SFCC President Dr. Joanna Anderson prior to the start of Monday night's regular Council meeting.