A seedling idea born during a casual lunch has blossomed into a multi-million dollar project plan to power State Fair Community College with alternative energy.
In February, Pettis County Presiding Commissioner Rusty Kahrs, SFCC President Marsha Drennon, Judge Robert Liston, Administrator of Sedalia Downtown Development Meg Liston, Pettis County Assessor Dean Dohrman, Benne Media Representative Stu Steinmetz and Lee and Linda Neely sat down to enjoy lunch at the Ivory Grille.
kAmp ?6H AC6D:56?E 925 ;FDE 366? 6=64E65 2?5 ?2E:@?2= >65:2 2EE6?E:@? H2D 7@4FD65 @? !C6D:56?E ~32>2’D DE:>F=FD A24<286] %9@D6 E@A:4D 5@>:?2E65 E96 4@?G6CD2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“(:E9 492?86D :? E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[” z29CD D2:5] “(6 E2=<65 23@FE 9@H E@ E2<6 25G2?E286 @7 7656C2= 2?5 DE2E6 7F?5:?8]”k^Am
kAmz29CD D2:5 E96 8C@FA 3C2:?DE@C>65 H2JD E@ FD6 !6EE:D r@F?EJ’D 4@?D6CG2E:G6 A9:=@D@A9J E@ 4C62E6 ;@3D 2?5 36EE6C E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAm“(6 H2?E65 E@ 4@>6 FA H:E9 D@>6E9:?8 E@ 8:G6 FD E96 >@DE 32?8 7@C @FC 3F4<[” z29CD D2:5]k^Am
kAm(:E9:? 2? 9@FC[ E96 8C@FA 925 564:565 E@ AFCDF6 A=2?D E@ 3F:=5 2? 2=E6C?2E:G6 6?6C8J 724:=:EJ] qJ |2C49 $urr H2D 2H2C565 2 Sd_[___ 8C2?E E@ 9:C6 2 4@?DF=E:?8 7:C> E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 762D:3:=:EJ @7 E96 AC@;64E] |:<6 |:==D[ AC:?4:A2= H:E9 $A64ECF> r@?DF=E:?8 vC@FA[ :56?E:7:65 2G2:=23=6 E649?@=@8J 2?5 56G6=@A65 6IA6?D6 2?5 C6G6?F6 AC@;64E:@?D]k^Am
kAmp?5 D@ E96 |:DD@FC: r6?E6C 7@C (2DE6 E@ t?6C8J AC@;64E H2D @77 E@ 2 CF??:?8 DE2CE] ~G6C E96 ?6IE 7@FC >@?E9D[ E96 8C@FA >6E H:E9 =68:D=2E@CD 2?5 2AAC@24965 2C62 3FD:?6DD 23@FE 364@>:?8 A2CE?6CD :? E96 AC@;64E] “(6 ?6G6C 9:E 2 C@253=@4<[” z29CD D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp =@@< 2E E96 AC@;64Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 AC@A@D65 |:DD@FC: r6?E6C 7@C (2DE6 E@ t?6C8J H:== 36 56D:8?65 E@ 42AEFC6 =2?57:== 82D 2?5 4@?G6CE =2?57:== H2DE6 >2E6C:2=D 2?5 28C:4F=EFC6 C6D:5F6 :?E@ 6=64EC:4:EJ] %96 724:=:EJ 2=D@ H:== D6CG6 2D 2 92?5D\@? EC2:?:?8 46?E6C 7@C $urr DEF56?ED 2?5 6>A=@J66D :? 25G2?465 6?6C8J DJDE6>D 2?5 C6=2E65 E649?@=@8:6D] xE 2=D@ H:== D6CG6 2D 2 E6DE 724:=:EJ 7@C ?6H E649?@=@8:6D 2?5 65F42E:@?2= AC@8C2>D] %96 46?E6C H:== 36 =@42E65 2E E96 (2DE6 r@CA@C2E:@? @7 |:DD@FC: r6?EC2= {2?57:== D:E6 =@42E65 @? &]$] wHJ] d_ :? $652=:2]k^Am
kAm|:==D D2:5 E96 =@42E:@? :D :562= 3642FD6 >2;@C EC2?D>:DD:@? =:?6D 2C6 2=C625J :? A=246]k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE A92D6 @7 E96 AC@;64E H:== 6DE23=:D9 32D6 @A6C2E:@?D 2E E96 =2?57:== :?4=F5:?8 EC2:?:?8 2?5 >2C<6E:?8 @7 E96 724:=:EJ] sFC:?8 E96 :?:E:2= A92D6[ E96 724:=:EJ H:== 92CG6DE =2?57:== 82D[ 42==65 >6E92?6[ :?E@ 6=64EC:4:EJ] %96 D64@?5 A92D6 H:== 36 E@ EFC? H2DE6[ DF49 2D A2A6C[ :?E@ 6=64EC:4:EJ E9C@F89 2 82D:7:42E:@? >6E9@5]k^Am
kAm%96 6=64EC:4:EJ AC@5F465 3J E96 46?E6C H:== 36 765 324< @?E@ E96 A@H6C 8C:5 G:2 2 A@H6C AFC492D6 7C@> z2?D2D r:EJ !@H6C 2?5 {:89E 2?5 E96? 36?67:E $urr E9C@F89 2 FE:=:EJ 3FJ 5@H?] “%C2D9 92D ?@ G2=F6[” z29CD D2:5[ “H:E9 E9:D AC@;64E H6 H@F=5 36 255:?8 G2=F6]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|@?6Jk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$urr C646:G65 2 Sd_[___ 8C2?E :? |2J 7C@> !:@?66C %C2:=D #68:@?2= !=2??:?8 r@>>:DD:@? 2?5 E96 |:DD@FC: s6A2CE>6?E @7 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D] %92E >@?6J H2D FD65 E@ 9:C6 $A64ECF> r@?DF=E:?8 vC@FA 7C@> r@=F>3:2] k^Am
kAm!2CE?6CD 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 AC@;64E 2=D@ 92G6 2AA=:65 7@C 2 r@>>F?:EJ s6G6=@A>6?E q=@4< vC2?E :? E96 2>@F?E @7 S`[ea_[___]k^Am
kAm%96 4@DE E@ 56G6=@A 2?5 6BF:A E96 46?E6C :D 6DE:>2E65 2E 36EH66? Sd]d 2?5 S`_ >:==:@?] }6E C6G6?F6D 2?5 766D 7C@> E96 46?E6C H:== 36 FD65 E@ DE277 2?5 >2:?E2:? E96 46?E6C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!2CE?6CDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$E2E6 u2:Ck^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>F?:EJ r@==686k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$urr H:== D6CG6 2D E96 AC:>2CJ ?@E\7@C\AC@7:E DA@?D@C 7@C E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 E96 46?E6C[ :?4=F5:?8 AC@G:5:?8 E96 AC:>2CJ 4@?5F:E 7@C 8C2?ED 2?5 @E96C 42A:E2= C6D@FC46D] %96 4@==686 2=D@ A=2?D E@ 56G6=@A 2?5 :>A=6>6?E EC2:?:?8 AC@8C2>D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 46?E6C] $urr 2=D@ H:== =625 E96 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 :>A=6>6?E2E:@? @7 2== EC2:?:?8 AC@8C2>D] sC6??@? D2:5 E96 4@==686 A=2?D E@ :>A=6>6?E 2 EH@\J62C 568C66 AC@8C2>[ 3@E9 @?=:?6 2?5 @?\42>AFD[ :? 2=E6C?2E:G6 6?6C8J]k^Am
kAm“(6 H2?E E@ >2<6 E9:D AC@8C2> 2G2:=23=6 E@ DEF56?ED 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(2DE6 r@CA@C2E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m@7 |:DD@FC:k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm(r| 92D 28C665 E@ 56G6=@A 2? 2446AE23=6 A=2? 7@C :?DE2==2E:@?[ 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 @A6C2E:@? @7 fd 82D H6== DJDE6>D 2E E96 =2?57:==] %96J 2=D@ A=2? E@ ?68@E:2E6 2? 2446AE23=6 =62D6 2?5 @A6C2E:?8 28C66>6?E 7@C 7:G6 24C6D @7 =2?5 2E E96 r6?EC2= |:DD@FC: {2?57:==[ H96C6 E96 46?E6C H:== 36 3F:=E]k^Am
kAm(r| #6AC6D6?E2E:G6 z6G:? ~’qC:6? D2:5 `[d__ 4F3:4 766E @7 >6E92?6 H:== 36 92CG6DE65 E9C@F89 E96 82D H6== DJDE6> A6C >:?FE6]k^Am
kAm“%9:D :D 2 8C62E @AA@CEF?:EJ[” ~’qC:6? D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C@t?6C8Jk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm!C@t?6C8J :D 6IA64E65 E@ AC@G:56 @?8@:?8 6IA6CE:D6 E@ E96 56G6=@A>6?E[ 4@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 C67:?6>6?E @7 E96 46?E6C[ :?4=F5:?8 FA E@ Sad_[___ @7 :?\<:?5 4@?DF=E:?8 6?8:?66C:?8] !C@t?6C8J 2=D@ 92D 6IAC6DD65 2? :?E6C6DE :? =625:?8 E96 @A6C2E:@?D 2E E96 46?E6C]k^Am
kAmy@9? $>6=EK6C[ 5:C64E@C @7 @A6C2E:@?D 2?5 >2:?E6?2?46[ D2:5 96 H2D A=62D65 E@ 36 2 A2CE @7 E96 AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm“x H2D D@>6H92E D<6AE:42= 2E 7:CDE[” 96 D2:5[ “3FE E96? x C62=:K65 E96J 925 D@>6E9:?8 E96C6]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mz2?D2D r:EJ !@H6C 2?5 {:89Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmzr!U2>Aj{ A=2?D E@ ?68@E:2E6 2 A@H6C AFC492D6 28C66>6?E H:E9 E96 46?E6C[ H9:49 H@F=5 :?4=F56 2? 6DE23=:D965 AC:46 2?5 =6?8E9 @7 4@>>:E>6?E] %96J 2=D@ H:== 8F2C2?E66 2446DD E@ E96 zr!U2>Aj{\@H?65 A@H6C 8C:5]k^Am
kAmzr!U2>Aj{ 2=D@ 28C665 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2? 25G:D@CJ C@=6 :? E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 E96 46?E6C] |2C< s2HD@?[ 5:DEC:4E 4@>>F?:EJ 2772:CD >2?286C[ D2:5 zr!U2>Aj{ :D 8C2E67F= E@ 36 :?G@=G65 :? E96 AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 AC@F5 E@ A=2J 2 D>2== A2CE :? E9:D F?:BF6 AC@;64E[” s2HD@? D2:5] “}@E @?=J :D E9:D 8@@5 7@C !6EE:D r@F?EJ[ 3FE 7@C |:DD@FC: 2D H6==]”k^Am
kAms2HD@? D2:5 E96 46?E6C H@F=5 4C62E6 ?6H 8C66? A@H6C ;@3D 2?5 4C62E6 ?6H @AA@CEF?:E:6D :? 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?E $652=:2\!6EE:D r@F?EJk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmts$!r 92D 28C665 E@ H@C< H:E9 E96 AC@;64E A2CE?6CD E@ D@FC46 7:?2?4:?8] %96J 2=D@ A=2? E@ H@C< H:E9 C68:@?2= :?5FDEC:6D E@ 4@@C5:?2E6 H2DE6 DEC62>D H9:49 >2J 36 5:G6CE65 E@ E96 46?E6C 7@C 4@?G6CD:@? :?E@ 6?6C8J] ts$!r 2=D@ H:== =625 E96 >2C<6E:?8 DEC2E68J 7@C E96 2=E6C?2E:G6 6?6C8J 724:=:EJ]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr:EJ @7 $652=:2k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 r:EJ @7 $652=:2 92D 28C665 E@ 6IA=@C6 5:G6CD:@? @7 4:EJ\4@?EC@==65 H2DE6 DEC62>D E@ E96 46?E6C] %96J 2=D@ A=2? E@ AC:@C:E:K6 E96 46?E6C H96? D66<:?8 8C2?E 7F?5:?8]k^Am
kAm“%9:D AC@;64E :D 8@:?8 E@ 36?67:E 6G6CJ@?6 3J C65F4:?8 6?6C8J 4@DED[” |2J@C t=2:?6 w@C? D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!6EE:D r@F?EJk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm!6EE:D r@F?EJ 92D 28C665 E@ D@FC46 7:?2?4:?8 2?5 AC:@C:E:K6 E96 46?E6C’D ?665D :? 4@>A6E:E:G6 8C2?E @AA@CEF?:E:6D] r@F?EJ 4@>>:DD:@?6CD 2=D@ A=2? E@ H@C< H:E9 4@>>F?:E:6D H:E9:? !6EE:D r@F?EJ E@ C64@8?:K6 2?5 5:G6CE H2DE6 DEC62>D[ :?4=F5:?8 28C:4F=EFC6 C6D:5F6 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ\86?6C2E65 H2DE6]k^Am
kAm“%9:D 46?E6C H:== C65F46 H2DE6 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 =2?57:==[” z29CD D2:5[ “2?5 :E H:== 36?67:E !6EE:D r@F?EJ 3J 4C62E:?8 9:896C\6?5 E649?@=@8J ;@3D]”k^Am
kAmz29CD D2:5 E96 3F:=5:?8 E96 2=E6C?2E:G6\6?6C8J 46?E6C 2=D@ 4@F=5 =625 E@ A2E6?ED 2?5 DA:?\@77 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!:@?66C %C2:=D #68:@?2=k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!=2??:?8 r@>>:DD:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 4@>>:DD:@?’D C@=6 H:== 36 E@ 2DD:DE H:E9 >2C<6E:?8 @7 E96 46?E6C 2?5 E96 46?E6C’D AC@8C2>D E@ 2EEC24E ?6H 3FD:?6DD 56G6=@A>6?E @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ E96 2C62]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt4@?@>:4 x>A24Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm|:==D D2:5 E96 46?E6C H:== ?665 E@ 9:C6 6:89E 6>A=@J66D 7@C 6G6CJ >682H2EE AC@5F465 3J E96 46?E6C]k^Am
kAm%96 7:?2= E2C86E :D E9C66 >682H2EED E@ 36 AC@5F465[ H9:49 H@F=5 >62? ac ;@3D H@F=5 36 4C62E65]k^Am