Sedalia’s city council has signed off on a budget amendment to fund, and an agreement with a firm to conduct the search for the city’s next administrator.

The council voted Monday to approve the $28,150 expenditure. Interim City Administrator Matthew Wirt says an outside firm will conduct the search to ensure its impartiality.

Wirt became interim city administrator last month, when Kelvin Shaw announced his plans to retire over the next year. Wirt joined the city’s administration team in 2023, after spending over two decades with the Sedalia Police Department, including five as police chief. He was recognized at the beginning of Monday’s meeting for his 25 years of service to the city.

Sedalia’s city council also recognized William Garrigus for 30 years of service as an equipment operator in the water department. The council also received presentations from attorney Joe Lauber about the city’s Chapter 353 Redevelopment Plan, as well as a proposal from the Missouri Department of Conservation to assume management of Spring Fork Lake south of the city. lastly, the council approved an ordinance authorizing the purchase of an upgraded wireless network at the Central Wastewater Plant, at a cost of $29,991.37.

The council will convene a strategc work session Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall in Sedalia to discuss priorities for the next fiscal year budget.