Proposed Tax Rate Public Hearing Receives No Comments
Monday night's City Council meeting led off with public hearing for proposed tax rates for 2024. The hearing received no comments, and Council later passed an ordinance adopting property tax levies.
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Rhiannon Foster noted that there was no increase in taxes as a result.
The vote was 7 yes and one absent (Councilman Chris Marshall). Mayor Andrew Dawson was also absent Monday night. Mayor Pro Tem Tina Boggess was in charge of the meeting. The City's spiritual advisor Byron Matson was also absent from Monday night's 37-minute meeting.
Due to a scheduling conflict with Missouri Municipal League meetings, the Sept. 16 Council meeting was pushed back to Sept. 23. Most, if not all Council members, will be attending the MML.
The MML will hold its 90th annual conference at the Branson Convention Center Sunday, Sept. 15 through Wednesday, Sept. 18. The conference is an opportunity for local government officials to network with Missouri's local government decision makers in person.
Council received an update from Financial Director Jessica Pyle.
She looked at June sales figures, which includes marijuana sales tax numbers, which shows over $500,000 year to date. “That shows we're 6.6 percent over where we were last year,” Pyle told the Council. “We budgeted a four percent increase, so that is a budget variance to the positive of over $200,000.” She explained that half of that was due to marijuana sales. There is no year-to-date comparison for June as the program began in October of 2023.
Franchise tax is down significantly, Pyle noted, and that is mainly due to the Charter class action lawsuit settlement money. The City received around $357,00 in April of 2023. The remaining $100,000 difference is due to a decrease in gas tax revenues. Gas tax is down 25% year to date, she pointed out.
Transportation taxes are higher year to date, and there are two reasons for that.
Gas tax is up nine percent fiscal year to date, Pyle said. And car sales are up 5.2 percent fiscal year to date. Vehicle fees, however, are flat.
Property tax is up slightly year to date, but the majority of that will come in December and January.
Council approved the hiring of a part-time IT person at a cost of $13,202.06.
Council then approved an idea proposed by Impact Signs concerning a historical sign park at the company's new facility at Thompson Meadows Industrial Park.
Council then passed an amendment to conduct a residential survey of west central Sedalia. The original grant agreement was adopted in December 2022. In June of this year, Council and the granting agency approved an extension of time to complete the work by Aug. 30.
It was noted that the grant was submitted by former Community Development Director John Simmons through the State Historic Preservation Office.
Council then amended the process involving any party who wishes to appeal the revocation of a license or permit. That case will now be heard by the Board of Appeals, instead of a hearing in front of City Council.
Under Public Works, Council formally appropriated $6,550 in funds to repair a brick landscaping wall that was damaged by a driver several months ago in the 100 block of West Main. The City received restitution from the insurance company and has located a vendor capable of making the repairs (brick mason John Bronson).
The breakdown is $4850 to fix the damage to the wall, and $1700 for maintenance and capstone repair. The repairs were not part of the City's building maintenance budget for FY 2025, it was noted. Therefore, a budget amendment was required.
Council accepted a proposal from bond attorneys Gilmore and Bell
to be able to use Certificate of Participation style financing to fund the Aquatics Center, bowling alley, fire station and fire training center projects. Gilmore and Bell (KCMO) are widely considered to be regional experts in this field. Also, staff has worked with them before and are very happy with their work.
Council then approved an agreement with Broadfoot Engineering, LLC, (Pettis County) for surveying and civil engineering for a sanitary sewer main extension along Highway 65 and Highway HH (near North 65 Cafe).
Under Public Safety, Council approved the purchase of new radios from Commenco for the Sedalia Police Department at a cost of $149,565.02 for 22 APX8500 Motorola radios. A grant will pay for half that amount. The old radios are beyond their expected life, it was noted, and no longer supported by the manufacturer.
Council granted a renewal for a liquor license to Erica Eisenmenger dba Ivory Grille, 317 South Ohio, for liquor by the drink, $450.
During Miscellaneous Items, First Ward Councilman Jack Robinson read aloud a press release from the City, urging residents to contact Pettis County Commissioners and demand that $548,000 in sales tax money collected by the County be forwarded on to the City of Sedalia.
During a vote, it was six yes and one no (First Ward Councilman Tom Oldham).
Miraculously, there were no comments received during the good & welfare portion of the meeting and Council adjourned to closed-door session.
More From KIX 105.7
