Detective DeVorss Recognized for 20 Years of Service

An annexation petition was heard by Sedalia City Council Monday night concerning Prairie Hollow Development, Co., LLC.

The petition was filed June 16 concerning 207 acres of unincorporated land contiguous to the city limits. The property owner (Joe Fischer) is in agreement to annex.

Prairie Hollow is located near Palmer Drive and Sacajawea Road. The development is also situated near Green Ridge Road, Cambridge Drive and Knottingham Drive. The developer, Joe Fischer, has expressed interest in extending access to the development via a road north to Winchester Drive.

No public comments were received during the time provided, and the hearing was closed by Mayor Dawson.

SPD Detective Aaron "Casey" DeVorss was then recognized for 20 years of service to the City.

SPD Police Chief David Woolery said that Det. DeVorss began his career with SPD on June 6, 2005.

“In the last 20 years, Casey has done just about every job there is to do in the police department. He started as a civilian desk officer, then as a patrol officer, worked as a detective, a traffic officer, a patrol sergeant, and Casey worked directly with command staff as a professional development sergeant,” Woolery said.

“Officer DeVorss has had the opportunities to see the very best and the very worst we have to offer,” Chief Woolery noted. “I’m not going to go into them, but rest assured Casey has some harrowing stories. I say that, to say this – through it all, Casey has never lost his compassion for people, which for me, has always been one of the most significant traits that he has always shown.”

Woolery went onto say that “Casey still finds ways to reach out to our citizens,” adding that Det. DeVorss created the Kyah Cares program, utilizing the SPD’s therapy dog Kyah to elementary schools and retirement homes to those who do not normally get much contact with law enforcement.

“After 20 years of law enforcement, Casey still has a heart of service, and he brings that to our citizens regularly,” Woolery stated.  He then awarded Det. DeVorss his 20-year service pin.

Under Public Works, Council then approved a resolution and a budget amendment for the Water Department totaling $36,700 for two additional full-time staff members, even though the total cost of two employees is $91,653.42.

The plan is to move $54,953.42 from the repair budget to the salary budget. Overall, it will save about $90,000 because there will be no need for outside contracting, it was noted.

Council then approved a $60,700 amendment for design-build agreement with Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company for the North and Central Wastewater Treatment Plant facility plans.

Council then approved a $1.25 million amendment to an agreement with Hoefer Welker LLC for Phase I of the fire station, training center, bowling alley and aquatics project. The increase is due to higher costs for the fire portion of the project, it was noted. This will bring the total appropriation for the fire facility to $7.5 million.

The City needs to purchase a mounted belt press from MDS Environmental Services for $604,000 for the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant. Currently the City is renting a belt press at a cost of $20,000 per month.

The cost of a new one is $526,000 plus $5,500 to deliver it to the Central Wastewater plant.

After four additional months of rental until the new one arrives, and applying a $7500 trade-in credit for the City’s old press, the net total purchase price is $604,000.

The deal is expected to save the City between $200,000 and $300,000 and will be in compliance with Missouri DNR.

Under Public Safety, an updated mutual aid agreement between SFD and WAFB Fire Department was approved. This includes fire protection, emergency medical services, hazardous materials  response and technical rescue operations.

Under Community Development, Council denied 8-0 a special use permit for Recovery Lighthouse (submitted by Amber Woolery to Planning & Zoning) for transitional housing at 1809 West 10th Street.  The plan was for up to 10 women plus one hour manager, to live there. Planning & Zoning voted 5-1 to deny the permit application on June 4.

First Ward Councilwoman Cheryl Ames said that “the consensus is it’s not a good fit for the neighborhood.”

Council denied a rezoning request from David Nouchka to rezone a parcel of land located west of 813 E. 19th Street from R-1 to R-2. The Planning & Zoning Commission voted 4-2 to allow it.

Mayor Pro Tem and Fourth Ward Councilwoman Rhiannon Foster said “I don’t feel this fits our model” when voting against the request, referring to the City’s Master Plan.

Council repealed Ordinance 10492 concerning a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) between the City of Sedalia and SDDI, Inc., for a redevelopment project involving the Uptown Theatre (originally executed in 2016) because SDDI has sold the property, rendering the agreement unenforceable.

One new liquor license was approved by Council:

Nathaniel Crow dba The Vault Restorante, 322 South Ohio, Suite 11, for Liquor by the Drink and Sunday Sales, $750.

A total of 10 liquor license renewals were also approved by Council:

*Nathaniel Crow dba The Vault Restorante, 322 South Ohio, Suite 100, Liquor by the Drink & Sunday Sales – $750.00 Renewals:

*Lindsey Pahlow dba Applebee’s, 3320 West Broadway, Liquor by the Drink & Sunday Sales – $750.00

*Crystal Sims dba Woods Supermarket Inc, 701 East Broadway, Packaged Liquor & Sunday Sales – $450.00

*Christina Sherman dba Jiffy Stop Food Mart #591, 1722 West Broadway, Packaged Liquor & Sunday Sales – $450.00

*Mary Jane Stewart dba American Legion Post 642, 2016 West Main, Liquor by the Drink & Sunday Sales – $750.00

*Carlos Enrique Cedillo dba B&B Sedalia Galaxy 10, 4104 West Main, Liquor by the Drink & Sunday Sales - $750.00

*Cathy Geotz dba Break Time #3167, 101 Rebar Road, Packaged Liquor & Sunday Sales - $450.00

*Dianna Greene dba The Greenhorn LLC dba Little Big Horn, 150 South Limit, Suite 100, Beer & Wine - $75.00

*Stacey Fitterer dba Fitter’s 5th Street Pub, 500 South Ohio Avenue, Liquor by the Drink & Sunday Sales - $750.00

*Erica Eisenmenger dba Ivory Grille LLC, 317 South Ohio, Liquor by the Drink - $450.00

*Doug Benitz dba Liberty Center Association for the Arts, 111 West 5th, Liquor by the Drink – $450.00

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Under Miscellaneous, Mayor Dawson suggested that on large, multi-year projects that city staff be directed to recalculate the cost annually to get a better idea of the price increases as the project moves along towards completion.

“So whenever the contract comes to us, we have a closer target, as far as what we’re looking for on price,” Dawson noted. “I think that will help with the planning of those big projects … that way we’re not caught with a big surprise.”

Council agreed unanimously and the motion passed.

After the 73-minute public meeting, Council then adjourned to closed-door session.