Two brief ceremonies started off Monday night's City Council meeting at the Sedalia Municipal Building, 200 S. Osage.

The first one was a public recognition of the promotion of Battalion Chief Kenneth Schlesselman by Sedalia Fire Chief Greg Harrell.

"Kenneth has spent 25 years with the Sedalia Fire Department, and last June was promoted," Harrell noted. "He's been one of the strong people who helped us turn the corner and held us move through this transition period. Kenneth came to us from Cole Camp, he was kind of a farm boy. But he's turned out to be one of our strongest leaders and very well respected by the men who work under him and by the department as a whole."

His wife Melissa was in attendance as well.

The second was a sergeant's pinning ceremony for two Sedalia Police officers.

Michael Elwood and Casey DeVorss were recently promoted to sergeant by Sedalia Police Chief Matt Wirt.

"The sergeant process is pretty involved. We take a lot of pride in it," said Chief Wirt, adding that the competitive nature of the three-month procedure is designed to result in successful careers for those promoted.

Wirt noted that Elwood and DeVorss successfully went through various tests and interviews with a peer board and the Police Personnel Board. "They were our top two candidates," Wirt said.

Their family members were present for the pinning ceremony as well.

All three honorees were congratulated by their department head, as well as Mayor John Kehde and applauded by members of the City Council and City Administrator Kelvin Shaw.

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