The Sedalia City Council approved a request Monday, Sept. 22 from a property owner seeking a more accurate zoning for their residential property.

The council voted 7-1 to rezone the property on the 700 block of South Park from R-1 to R-2. City administrator Matthew Wirt says the duplex was built just prior to the city adopting a comprehensive zoning map.

The planning and zoning commission had voted 4-1 in favor of supporting the rezoning. The property’s owners told the commission that the R-1 zoning complicated their ability to properly insure the property. Two council members expressed concern about the request, with the third ward’s Bob Cross suggesting that the request would open “a can of worms”. Cross ultimately voted in favor of the request, while fourth ward councilwoman Rhiannon Foster remained opposed. Wirt says the situation was unique compared to requests made earlier this year.

A request to rezone a vacant lot on East 19th Street from R-1 to R-2 was rejected by council in July.

Also Monday night, the Sedalia City Council accepted the bid from Earthworks Excavation of Higginsville for the second phase of the South Grand Avenue Water Main Replacement project, totaling $925,877.34, and accepted the quote of $49,875 from Hansen’s Tree Service for yard waste grinding. A pair of ordinances were adopted, updating the definition of where stop signs are placed following the reconfiguration of North Cedar Drive into Reine Avenue at the city limits.

After a public hearing at the beginning of the meeting, the council authorized the issuance of up to $18.5 million of lease certificates to cover the construction of the new bowling alley, fire training center, and new Central Fire Station.