Residents north of the Union Pacific railroad tracks in Sedalia are expressing frustration over recent delays in emergency responses.

Mayor pro tem and second ward councilwoman Tina Boggess raised concerns during Monday night’s Sedalia City Council meeting of delays experienced by the Sedalia Fire Department and Pettis County Ambulance District when responding to a medical emergency after Christmas. Interim city administrator Matthew Wirt says city officials are revisiting the issue, once again compounded by the closure of the Washington Street Bridge for needed repairs.

The city council voted in July to purchase cameras to monitor at-grade crossings in the city, allowing first responders to know when to use an alternate crossing or proactively dispatch a unit.

In action taken Monday night, the Sedalia City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with Bothwell Regional Health Center, listing reimbursement rates for services offered to city employees that would allow Bothwell to become in-network through the city’s worker’s compensation provider. The council also adopted a budget amendment and contract with Strategic Government Resources (SGR) to handle the search for a new city administrator, and renewed a mutual aid agreement between Sedalia Fire and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

This story was updated Jan. 9, 2025 to correct the name of the company hired to handle the city administrator search.