The Sedalia City Council fell one vote shy of overriding Mayor Traves Williams’ veto that rejected an agreement to have the city’s solid waste deposited at a landfill outside Warrensburg.

Council members David Covington, Spencer Redford, and Lee Schreiber voted Monday, May 4 to uphold Williams’ objection to the agreement with Show-Me Regional Landfill, who would have charged Sedalia $33 per ton. Williams said the city should continue to use the current landfill just west of Sedalia, despite concerns raised by sanitation staff about road and safety conditions at the facility. City administrator Matthew Wirt says for now, the city continues to pay a higher rate to deposit their collected garbage.
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(from left) Sedalia Mayor Traves Williams and Third Ward Councilmen David Covington and Bob Cross listen to guidance from the city’s legal counsel on how the council could override Williams’ veto of an ordinance. The council voted 5-3 on May 4, 2026 in favor of overriding Williams’ veto against a contract with Show-Me Landfill of Warrensburg, but needed six votes for the override to occur. (Photo by Kyle Hill, KMMO News)

Facility owners GFL Environmental are bidding to charge Sedalia $31 per ton. During discussion of the override attempt, Williams suggested that sanitation drivers would need to complete a physical every two years in order to comply with federal regulations were the city’s garbage hauled to Warrensburg. He also asked for documentation about claims filed by two city employees who reported injuries while at GFL’s landfill. Wirt says the injuries had occurred several years ago, resulting in workman’s compensation payouts.

Wirt says the claims have since been settled.

Also at Monday night’s meeting, the council amended the city’s wastewater pretreatment ordinances and granted a permit for Mid States Specialty Eggs to haul their wastewater discharge to the city’s treatment plants. The council also approved the purchase of a pickup truck for the utilities department totaling $108,000 and rescinded the awarding of a contract for sidewalk replacements to S & A Equipment and Builders.