The City of Sedalia is proud to announce a generous donation from Gardner Denver’s Sedalia Plant: an industrial blower critical to the operation of the City’s Central Wastewater Treatment Plant. This contribution underscores Gardner Denver’s commitment to investing in its local community while highlighting the exceptional quality of equipment labeled not just “Made in the USA,” but “Made in Sedalia.”
The donated blower plays a vital role in the aeration process at Sedalia’s Central Wastewater Plant. Aeration is essential to keeping sludge in a thin liquid form before it is sent to a belt press for dewatering, which squeezes the water out and leaves behind a dry sludge cake for disposal. When the existing blower’s bearings seized up, the City struggled to find a responsive vendor willing to sell a replacement.
A breakthrough came during an industrial pretreatment walkthrough at Gardner Denver’s Sedalia Plant. City staff mentioned the difficulty they’d had sourcing a new blower. Gardner Denver’s local team immediately stepped in, requesting the model number to see if they could help.
Just days later, on Friday, June 27, 2025, Tyler Utz, Facilities and EHS Manager for Gardner Denver in Sedalia, contacted the City to say they had located the exact blower needed—and that they wanted to donate it, supporting the City as part of their commitment to helping and investing in the local municipality.
“This is a great example of our local industries stepping up to strengthen the community they’re part of,” said Interim City Administrator Matthew Wirt. “Gardner Denver’s Sedalia team embodies the skill and pride of our workforce. Their products travel all over the world, but it all starts right here in Sedalia. We are grateful for this donation and for their ongoing commitment to our city.”
Beyond the immediate operational benefits, the donation symbolizes the strong relationship between Sedalia’s manufacturers and the City itself. Gardner Denver’s local facility is a cornerstone of the community’s industrial economy, producing world-class equipment that carries the story of Sedalia’s dedicated workforce to customers across the globe.
The City of Sedalia also wishes to extend special thanks to the entire Gardner Denver team who helped identify and secure the correct blower for donation, including Lacy Bell, Brandon Anderson, John Esselman, John O’Brien, Linda Corbett, Trent Lawson and Tristan Westermier. Their efforts exemplify the spirit of collaboration and local pride that make Sedalia such a strong, connected community.
City officials invite the community to join in recognizing this generous gift and celebrating the enduring partnership between Sedalia’s businesses and its people.
