Central Bank of Boone County is Columbia’s largest bank, with approximately $3-billion in assets. The bank has 14 branches, including numerous Columbia branches and locations in Boonville, Ashland, Centralia, Hallsville and Sturgeon. Central Bank of Boone County president Ed Scavone joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table.” Mr. Scavone is one of Columbia’s top business and banking leaders. He moved to Columbia in 1978, at the age of 14. His mother-in-law worked for Central Bank in Moberly. Mr. Scavone has spent 29 years with Central Bank, including four years as president of Central Bank of Boone County. Inflation and housing were two of many topics Mr. Scavone and Mr. Parry tackled on the show. Mr. Scavone tells listeners that the big spender is the government, adding that the inflation we’re seeing now has been driven by federal COVID dollars and by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Fred and Mr. Scavone also discussed the local economy. Mr. Scavone tells listeners that the median home value in Boone County is now about $350,000, adding that for years, housing costs were lower in Columbia than in St. Louis and Kansas City. Mr. Parry and Mr. Scavone say that’s not the case now:
Columbia’s city council gives green light to permit for construction of homeless shelter
A proposed 120-bed homeless shelter near Columbia’s power plant and former VFW Post 280 building is a step closer to reality.
The city council voted Monday evening to approve a permit that allows for the construction and operation of the proposed shelter near the Business Loop. The Voluntary Action Center (VAC) would operate the shelter, under the proposal.
City manager De’Carlon Seewood believes there are 100 to 200 homeless residents in town. Mr. Seewood’s report says clients at the proposed homeless shelter are to be single men and women experiencing homelessness. The longest they could stay at the shelter would be 90 days, according to Mr. Seewood’s report.
The proposed shelter would also include a commercial, laundry facilities, pet kennels, restrooms and showers. Critics of the proposal say there are inadequate sidewalks in that area and not enough services for the homeless.
The city has also purchased VFW Post 280’s building and parking lots on Ashley street for $865,000. The city used federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars for the purchase. President Joe Biden (D) signed ARPA into law. The VFW property is located just behind Columbia’s municipal power plant.
Seewood: plans continue for permanent Columbia homeless shelter
Columbia’s city manager believes there are anywhere from 100 to 200 homeless residents in town.
Sheltering the unhoused has been a top priority and challenge for city manager De’Carlon Seewood. He notes Columbia’s Room at the Inn (RATI) has moved into the former VFW Post 280 building on Ashley street. It’s located near the city’s municipal power plant.
“Instead of them moving from church to church, they now have a permanent location. I think when they were at most of the churches, the most people they could take is 30. Now their hope max (maximum) is 65, but I think over through the real cold spell I think they had over 100 people in there,” Seewood says.
Columbia’s city council approved the $865,000 purchase of the building and parking lots in October, and the city is spending another $490,000 on building improvements. The city is using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.
Mr. Seewood appeared in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.”
“There’s this goal of building a larger facility. The question is how do we make that work. And so my hope is that through using the Ashley street center we can actually start that template,” says Seewood.
The former VFW Post is a 14,000 square feet building with a seating capacity of 300. The Voluntary Action Center (VAC) hopes to build a larger 100 bed homeless shelter near the former VFW post and city power plant. It would include shower facilities, medical and dental clinics and laundry facilities.
Columbia eyeing VFW Post property near Business Loop for homeless facility
Columbia’s city council is set to vote Monday evening on a proposal to purchase VFW property near the Business Loop to provide a location for a homeless shelter and services for the homeless.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 280 is willing to sell their building, parking lots and picnic shelter on Ashley street for $865,000. Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars would pay for the purchase and building improvements. President Joe Biden (D) signed ARPA into law in 2021.
The building has about 14,000 square feet. Comobuz.com has reported that a non-profit group hopes to break ground next year on a 100-bed homeless shelter near the city’s power plant on the Business Loop. Publisher Mike Murphy has reported that the project’s construction cost has increased from $11-million to $18-million. Murphy says they project supporters have lined up $6-million in funding from the state.
Murphy told 939 the Eagle’s Fred Parry in September that the proposed 25,000 square foot facility would include laundry facilities, showers, and medical and dental clinics.