Sedalia City Council approves budget amendments for water and fire facility projects

In a decisive move to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, the Sedalia City Council has approved a significant budget amendment to transition street repair work in-house. The decision, made during the July 7, 2025, meeting, comes in response to rising contractor costs and a lack of responses to recent bids for necessary repairs.

The water department's current contractor has announced a rate increase that would push annual contracted street repair costs to approximately $125,000 for labor alone. To counter this, city staff proposed hiring two full-time employees dedicated to street repairs, with an estimated total cost of $91,653.42 for the remainder of the budget year. This transition is expected to save the city around $90,000 in the next fiscal year by eliminating the need for outside contracting and improving response times for repairs.

The council unanimously passed a resolution and an ordinance to amend the budget, allowing for the hiring of these employees. This strategic shift aims to provide better control over the quality and timeliness of street repairs, while also enabling the new hires to assist with other essential tasks related to utility maintenance.

In addition to the street repair initiative, the council also approved an amendment to a design-build agreement for the wastewater treatment plants, which will facilitate compliance with state regulations. This includes a comprehensive evaluation of operational efficiencies and potential consolidation of facilities to improve long-term performance.

The meeting concluded with the approval of an emergency purchase for a mobile solids belt press for the central wastewater treatment plant, addressing urgent operational needs while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

These decisions reflect the city’s commitment to improving infrastructure and operational efficiency, setting the stage for enhanced service delivery in Sedalia.