The Sedalia City Council went into further discussion regarding possible improvements to wastewater lift stations on the west side of the city during Monday’s special meeting.
Olsson Associates presented three options from the lift stations study during last week’s council meeting. City Administrator Gary Edwards said the improvements are absolutely needed.
Public Works Director Brenda Ardrey said she talked with Alliance, which works with the city on wastewater, to get a further opinion.
“What it comes down to is what we believe we need short-term and long-term,” Ardrey explained. “On the long-term, 900-some acres that the likelihood is that would occur later and we could ask whoever moved into that area to assist with that upgrade to a gravity line. They (Alliance) suggested a combination of alternative B, which is the upgrade to Menard’s lift station, and alternative C, which is to speak to the owner of the private gravity line that is in the same location as Main Street West and switching to gravity there.”
The three options cost between $627,000 and $950,000. Cost is an issue because the city has only budgeted $505,000 in Fiscal Year 2018 for this project, according to Edwards.
“The longest-term option is the most expensive. But we also don’t know if there will be any construction in that area, so I tend to put option C off simply because of money right now,” Ardrey said. “I know the conditions of the other plants — we may have other issues that come up before that 50-year mark.”
Ardrey said she thinks option C or Alliance’s option A-C is what the city needs to continue growing.
To get enough money for the lowest option, Ardrey said the Public Works Department would delay a planned $120,000 aeration piping project at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant. Instead the department would continue point repairs.
Council will make a decision regarding lift station improvements at a later meeting.
Council also discussed the city’s social media policy, which will be voted on during a later meeting.
After discussions, during the meeting council:
• Denied an ordinance establishing a two-way stop sign on West 14th Street at the intersection of South Quincy Avenue. Ward 4 Councilman Tollie Rowe was the only yes vote. Citizens made the request, which was unanimously recommended by the Traffic Advisory Commission, due to concerns for child safety since there are no sidewalks in the area and there is a bus stop at the corner for middle and high school students.
Ardrey said the traffic count didn’t qualify the intersection for a stop sign, adding that stop signs should not be used as a speed deterrent, as studies show the opposite usually happens.
“It is not called for in the Uniform Traffic Safety Regulations,” Edwards told the citizen in attendance who had obtained 17 signatures from neighbors in the area in favor of the stop sign request. “Secondly, there is concern as far as setting a precedent throughout town (for approving stop signs) when we would many times be going against the Uniform Traffic Safety Regulations.”
• Awarded a proposal for police operations study to REJIS in St. Louis for $13,621.
• Approved an ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 10487 regarding the rezoning application for Lawrence J. Klein for property at 1602 S. Harrison Ave., 1606 S. Harrison Ave., and 1618 S. Harrison Ave.
• Approved an ordinance amending Section 12-115 of the Code of Ordinances relating to temporary business licenses and festivals.
• Approved the first reading of an ordinance allowing the supplying and selling of natural gas or manufactured gas to the city by Empire District Gas Co. The ordinance will be read again for final approval in 30 days.
All members were present.
