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City staff to pursue voluntary AOC with Missouri DNR for Southeast wastewater plant improvements
Summary
Public works staff recommended the city pursue a voluntary abatement order (AOC) with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to address deficiencies at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Facility; staff said an engineering condition assessment is underway and that an AOC would set a negotiated compliance timeline.
City public works staff told the Sedalia City Council Aug. 18 that the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Facility—constructed in 1985—has multiple systems at or beyond service life and that recent inspections identified deficiencies. Staff recommended entering a voluntary abatement order (AOC) or order on consent with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MODNR) to set a negotiated, sequenced plan and schedule for corrective work.
Why an AOC: Staff described three primary needs: replacement of critical equipment, modernization of support systems (electrical, pumping, controls), and capacity/operational improvements to address peak flows and redundancy. An AOC, staff said, would create a binding timeline agreed with MODNR, avoid arbitrary deadlines, reduce the chance of fines, and allow coordinated project planning so work is completed in sequence and aligned with funding sources.
Evidence and next steps: Staff said they are pursuing a condition assessment with an engineering firm to provide scope and cost estimates. If the council agrees to pursue an AOC, staff will bring back formal documents and the proposed agreement for council approval at a later date. Staff noted past cooperative communication with DNR and said DNR had provided helpful corrective suggestions during inspections.
Council response: Council members asked questions and received clarifications from wastewater operations staff and the utilities director. Staff emphasized the voluntary nature of the request and the intent to be proactive with regulatory partners.
Implementation risk: Staff characterized the need as significant due to aging infrastructure but said an AOC provides flexible scheduling tied to funding cycles; formal agreements and costs will be returned to council for approval.
