Life-saving Efforts Recognized by Sedalia Council

Tuesday night's City Council meeting began with awards presented to Sedalia Fire & Police for their life-saving efforts in November.

Lloyd Hesseltine suffered from a cardiac event on Nov. 28 at 12:37 p.m.. CPR and AED were used to resuscitate Hesseltine.

Sedalia Firefighters involved in the incident were Matthew Kowalski, Tony Turner, John Clarke- engineer; and Scoot Smoot, engineer and time & title captain.

Sedalia Police Officer Derrick DeSalme was also involved in the life-saving efforts.

Hesseltine was reportedly given CPR on scene for four minutes.

"Officer DeSalme responded to a medical call at West Broadway and Oak Grove Lane. SFD and PCAD were also dispatched to the incident. Mr. Hesseltine’s wife started CPR, is my understanding, and Officer DeSalme took over when he arrived. SFD and PCAD arrived a short time later and the group worked to keep Mr. Hesseltine alive," said Sedalia Police Chief Matt Wirt.

"We are all very proud of our brave men and women who work for us," commented Chief Wirt. Chief Irwin echoed those remarks.

After approving minutes from four meetings (Special Council, Regular Council, Strategic Planning, and Planning & Zoning), Council heard a presentation from Financial Director Jessica Pyle.

Pyle noted that sales tax revenues year to date are $800,776 over last year, a 6.2 percent increase.

Franchise tax revenues are up over last year, primarily due to the gas tax, she said. Transportation tax continues to trend higher, up 10.8 percent, or $76,780 more than last December.

A final report on property taxes for 2022 will be available soon, Pyle said.

Under Public Works, Council then awarded contracts for engineering consulting with Engineering Surveys &Services, Inc. (Columbia), and Broadfoot Engineering, LLC (Sedalia). They were two of four firms that responded to a request for qualifications for engineering of small sewer projects and small sanitary sewer extension and replacement projects.

The cost is not to exceed $43,000 for “Project B” which includes:

*an eight-inch sewer main extension that will 200 feet in length
*a 12-inch sewer main extension from South Lamine to 321 East Main that will 585 feet in length
*an eight-inch sewer main extension that will be 320 feet in length, and travels under US 65 Highway

Under Public Safety, Council approved a change order for topological surveys for a new fire station. It was decided by staff that it would beneficial to increase the area being surveyed to aide in site selection and positioning of the facility. The work will be done by architect Hoefer Walker, LLC, Leawood, Kansas.

Council approved three resolutions to apply for grants identified by Chief Matt Irwin to help offset some of the costs of a new fire station.

The grants were identified as:

*Assistance to Firefighters Equipment Grant
*Fire House Subs Grant
*Assistance to Firefighters SAFER Grant

Included in the current fiscal year budget is a command vehicle for the SFD. It has been ordered, but the Dodge Durango will not be available until next year. In the meantime, the local Dodge Ram dealer reached out to the City and said they have a pickup truck (2022 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD crew cab) that was ordered for another fire service provider. However, it took so long to receive the truck that the other fire service provider no longer wanted it. The dealer is offering it to the City to purchase it for $36,391. The truck will be used as a command response truck as well as an inspection services vehicle.

Fourth Ward Councilman Steve Bloess was the lone no-vote on the truck purchase.

Under mayoral appointments, Garry Holstein was appointed to the Central Business and Cultural District Board of Directors to complete Michelle Bassett's term ending January 2024.

Mike Privitt was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission to complete John Kehde's term ending June 2026.

Three liquor licenses were renewed Tuesday night, including:

*Lovell Curry dba The Den, 115 West Main, liquor by the drink and Sunday Sales, $750

*Gloria Ayala dba El Espolon, 2400 South Limit, liquor by the drink and Sunday Sales, $750

*Gloria Ayala dba Tacos Degollado, 813 Thompson Blvd., liquor by the drink and Sunday Sales, $750

The 25-minute public meeting ended, followed by a closed-door session. Council meets again Feb. 6.