Council directs staff to prepare permit and water-connection fee waiver for new economic development headquarters

The Sedalia City Council voted to direct staff to prepare the necessary documentation to waive building permit and water connection fees for a new economic development headquarters being built at 101 Curry Drive in Thompson Meadows Industrial Park.

Jessica Craig, director of economic development, presented the project on behalf of the Sedalia Pettis County Community Service Corporation, a private 501(c)(3) that is developing the building. Craig said the organization hired Rob Rawlings Architects and selected Septagong Construction through competitive bid; she told the council the building’s estimated completion date is Oct. 30, 2025. Craig said about 90% of the building’s funding has come from a private contribution by Bill Shumake and that no public funds are being used for construction.

Craig asked the council to consider waiving permit fees already incurred and future building-permit and water-connection fees for the project. She said the contractor had provided an estimate of the fees to date at just over $3,900. After brief questions from the council, a motion directing staff to prepare the documentation to implement the waiver and return the matter to the next meeting passed on a voice vote.

The council’s motion directs staff to prepare formal documentation for consideration; it does not itself waive the fees. Staff will return the prepared documentation for final approval at a subsequent council meeting, per the motion’s direction.

Councilmembers did not attach conditions to the direction at the time of the vote; staff and the economic development director said they would bring back the specific waiver ordinance or resolution for a future council action.