$60M Sewer Bond Issue Passes By Nearly 80 Percent

The City of Sedalia's $60 Million Sewer Bond issue passed by a nearly 80 percent margin, garnering 760 yes votes and 201 no votes.

Turnout for the special election was a mere 7.71 percent, with 961 voters coming out on Tuesday, out of a possible 12,465 registered voters in Pettis County.

The money that will now be borrowed will be used to make significant improvements to the city's wastewater system.

The State of Missouri is requiring the City of Sedalia to replace the North Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant’s technology is severely outdated, with most of the equipment dating back to the 1940s. That technology no longer meets the requirements of the state’s DNR nor the requirements of the federal EPA.

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The City will have 30 years to pay back the $60 million, and Mayor Andrew Dawson said the plan is to replace outdated technology, ensure the quality of our drinking water and prevent sewage from contaminating groundwater and streams. The improvements will help the City comply with the state’s requirements and solve many of the ongoing problems residents have had with the current system, he said.

Tours of the Central Wastewater plant were held last week to explain the wastewater process and to encourage voters to pass the bond issue. The tour presented on Thursday was mostly attended by Cty officials.

In the top photo: Jeff Barnard with engineering firm Burns & McDonnell, takes questions from those attending a tour of the City's Central Wastewater plant last Thursday.