Columbia City Council | 98.3 The Dove

(AUDIO): Retiring Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

June 6, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia police chief Geoff Jones will retire effective August 1. He joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”. He’s been police chief since 2019. Chief Jones tells listeners that he told then-city manager John Glascock that he would stay for three to five years, when he became chief in 2019. He says he’s been thinking about retiring for months, well before the Harpo’s incident. Chief Jones tells listeners that he wants to spend more time with his family and children. He also says he’s never felt more supported by the city council. He joined us in-studio on 939 the Eagle and NewsRadio 950 KWOS:

Columbia’s city council gives green light to new park in northeast Columbia

May 2, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson speaks at the ribbon-cutting for the new $200-million Swift Foods plant in Columbia on April 6, 2023 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

A check for $200,000 from JBS’s “Hometown Strong Initiative” and Swift Prepared Foods will pay half of the cost of developing a park in one of Columbia’s poorest neighborhoods.

Whitegate park will be developed near Towne Drive and Whitegate, which is near Paris road and it’s also near Clark lane and I-70. Swift executives were in Columbia Monday evening to make the check presentation to the city council, which accepted the check and approved the park proposal. It will include a new playground, shelter, basketball court, handball court and lighting.

The voter-approved 2021 Columbia park sales tax is also providing funding for the 400-thousand dollar project.

Whitegate park will be near Columbia Insurance Group and the Reentry Opportunity Center. Construction is expected to begin this summer, with completion expected in the spring of 2025.

U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raymore), who represents northern Columbia and Boone County on Capitol Hill, has predicted that the new Swift Foods plant will help Columbia and will help feed families.

Three concerts planned in downtown Columbia on May 6; issue heads to city council tonight

April 3, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The Columbia Sports Fieldhouse is located in the A. Perry Philips park, near Fr. Tolton high school (2023 file photo courtesy of Columbia Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Tammy Miller)

A proposed $5.8 million improvement project at south Columbia’s sports fieldhouse in A. Perry Philips park is scheduled to be voted on at tonight’s city council meeting.

The proposal would add about 44,000 square feet to the sports fieldhouse, including four hardwood courts, a multipurpose room and seating area, walkways, additional parking lots and improved lighting.

There are three funding sources for the project: the 2021 park sales tax, the CVB tourism development fund and Columbia’s general fund. Staff is recommending council approval tonight.

Meantime, Columbia’s city council is also scheduled to vote on a three-page proposal to authorize an operations agreement for several downtown concerts on May 6. That’s a Saturday.

The outdoor community event and concerts would be near My House Nightclub and Sports Bar on South Seventh street. The council’s packet says 3,000 people are expected to attend. There will also be a street fair with artisan vendors, nonprofits and food trucks. Three concerts are planned that day at approximately 1 pm, 3 pm and 9 pm.

Tonight’s council meeting begins at 7.

Three concerts planned in downtown Columbia on May 6; issue heads to city council tonight

April 3, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A proposed $5.8 million improvement project at south Columbia’s sports fieldhouse in A. Perry Philips park is scheduled to be voted on at tonight’s city council meeting.

There are three funding sources for the project: the 2021 park sales tax, the CVB tourism development fund and Columbia’s general fund. Staff is recommending council approval tonight.

Meantime, Columbia’s city council is also scheduled to vote on a three-page proposal to authorize an operations agreement for several downtown concerts on May 6. That’s a Saturday.

Tonight’s council meeting begins at 7.

(AUDIO): Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood discusses roll carts, trash and city employee morale on “Randy Tobler show”

March 25, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood says the city has a strong plan in place to go to a roll cart trash collection system. The city council voted 7-0 this week to approve roll carts. Mr. Seewood joined 939 the Eagle’s Randy Tobler live on the “Randy Tobler show” to discuss trash and roll carts. Mr. Seewood says the city has the money to purchase roll carts and to lease the new trash trucks. That will cost the city about $3-million. Seewood notes the city hasn’t purchased any new trucks for the past two years. Mr. Seewood also tells listeners that his first year and three months in office have been a learning experience, and that’s accomplished his main goal of city employees feeling valued: