Three Sedalia Firefighters Promoted

Three Sedalia firefighters were promoted in a badge-pinning ceremony that led off Monday night's City Council meeting.

Trent Flake, Tanner Crawford and Adam Bazen were pinned by their significant others.

Fire Chief Matt Irwin said Flake, Crawford and Bazen are three of six firefighters who worked through the EMT program and are ready to be promoted. They were expedited through the SFD's Firefighter I & II classes  that normally take six months, but completed the program in about 12 weeks.

"I'm very proud of these three individuals," the fire chief said.

Firefighter Flake was pinned by his grandmother Roseanne, Firefighter Crawford was pinned by his grandmother Carol Wilkinson, and Firefighter Bazen was pinned by his wife Riley.

Under Finance and Administration, Financial Director Jessica Pyle gave Council an update on sales tax trends in the City for the last available month.

Wood & Huston was added as a depository institution for bank accounts and investments owned by the City of Sedalia.

Under Public Works, Council approved a change order from Poort Excavating for storm drainage improvements (Project Area #21) in the amount of $7,480.

Council also approved a bid for the purchase of four Chevy Silverado 4x4 trucks from W-K Chevrolet at a total cost of $174,424. W-K was the only bidder, it was noted.

The trucks will be used by the Sedalia Water Department and Water Pollution Control, and replace a 1999, a 2000, a 2005 and a 2011 truck, all with high mileage and in poor condition.

Council also authorized an agreement with Broadfoot Engineering, LLC, for professional survey work and civil engineering for a water main extension in the amount of $49,000. There are two projects, both of them near Highway 65 and Route HH.

Theron Broadfoot has been working with the developers and has done the preliminary site plans, as well as obtain the topology survey work, it was noted.

Under Public Safety, Council heard a presentation on the City's tornado sirens from Sedalia Fire Chief Matt Irwin.

Council then approved a new liquor license for Gloria Ayala dba Don Jose Mexican, 111 South Grand, for liquor by the drink and Sunday sales, $750.

Renewals were approved for:

*Christina Sherman dba Jiffy Stop Food Mart #591, 1722 W. Broadway, for liquor by the drink and Sunday sales, $750

*Lindsey Pahlow dba Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, 3320 W. Broadway, for liquor by the drink and Sunday sales, $750.

*Larry R. Garfriel dba Ni-Kuni Japanese Steak House, 2401 W. Broadway, for liquor by the drink and Sunday sales, $750.

In his remarks under Miscellaneous,  First Ward Councilman Tom Oldham stated that a two-station for the Sedalia Fire Department is not working and will not work for the City of Sedalia. He warned that the City's ISO rating will be in jeopardy if Sedalia doesn't come up with a three-station solution. He added that the placement of fire stations within the City is 50 percent of an ISO rating.

Paying for a third station should be up to the voters, Oldham suggested. "We cannot take that decision away from the public," he said. He promised that he will recommend a three-station model at the very next Council meeting, which will be July 1.

Councilman Oldham also promoted “Day of Action,” organized by United Way of Pettis County, and scheduled for Saturday, June 22, starting at 7 a.m., at Katy Park.

Fourth Ward Councilman Steve Bloess added that parking is available not only at the park, but also at Katy Park Baptist Church and at Mid-City Lumber, 2400 Clinton Road. Around 300 people are expected to attend the event, which is scheduled to last from 7 a.m., to noon.

Council then adjourned for a closed-door session after the 49-minute meeting.