Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood

Seewood: Most of Columbia’s murders in 2022 involved domestic violence

January 10, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood at city hall (July 28, 2022 file photo from 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth)

Preventing domestic violence is a top priority for Columbia’s city manager. De’Carlon Seewood tells 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table” that nine of Columbia’s 11 homicides last year were domestic-related.

“How do we do some of the mental health support to help people get out of those situations so they’re not involved in the position where they’re being abused or they could potentially can lose their life because of who they’re with,” Seewood says.

Columbia saw at least two murders involving domestic violence in November. 31-year-old Montez Williams is charged with first degree murder for the shooting death of 42-year-old April Joann Brooks of Cuba, who was shot to death in a running vehicle. 31-year-old Cadilac Derrick is charged with two counts of second degree mureder for the November deaths of 22-year-old Lea’johna Sanders and 53-year-old Laura Myers. Court documents say Derrick and Sanders had an infant son.

Mr. Seewood also says while the city is a “pretty safe” community, it must invest in programs aimed at preventing violence. Columbia’s youth are a top priority for Seewood, who’s about to mark his first anniversary as city manager.

“We have to do youth programs. So how do we get in front of some of our kids who potentially could go down that path. To make sure they have positive outlets so they don’t go down that route,” says Seewood.

Click here to listen to host Fred Parry’s full interview with Seewood.

Seewood: plans continue for permanent Columbia homeless shelter

January 9, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

There are still plans to build a 100-bed homeless facility near Columbia’s municipal power plant (2022 file photo courtesy of City of Columbia Utilities)

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.

Button: Columbia’s new Swift plant will produce 40-million pounds of meat products annually

November 21, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Determination and sincerity are two of the core values cited by Swift Foods (May 24, 2021 file photo at Swift’s Moberly plant courtesy of Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s Flickr page)

The almost $200-million Swift Foods plant that’s being built on Columbia’s Route B is expected to open in early 2023.

That’s according to Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) president Stacey Button, who spoke Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table.”

“A fun fact actually they’re going to produce 40-million pounds of meat products a year, which is a lot of cured meat,” Button says.

Swift Foods is currently hiring employees for the plant, which will bring in about 200 new jobs. They’re expected to pay about $50,000 annually. City manager De’Carlon Seewood tells 939 the Eagle that the Swift facility is near the Nabisco plant.

The facility is 325,000 square feet, which is about the size of the former State Farm headquarters, which is now the main campus for Veterans United (VU). Button says the plant will make Italian meats like prosciutto, salamis and pepperoni.

“The plant itself is $185-million. It’s a significant investment in our community and jobs as well,” says Button.

She says Swift provides pepperoni for Papa John’s and salami for Subway.

Swift Foods expected to open in Columbia early next year

November 2, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Swift Prepared Foods has a bacon plant in Moberly. It’s also building one in Columbia (May 24, 2021 file photo courtesy of Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s Flickr page)

Boone County commissioners have finalized an incentive plan for Swift Food’s $200-million project in Columbia.

Our news partner KMIZ reports the Boone County commission has signed off on the incentive package.

Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood emphasized the project during this year’s State of the City address. Mr. Seewood says Swift will open its plant on Route B in early 2023, bringing more than 200 jobs to the area. Those positions are expected to pay more than $50,000 annually.

Mr. Seewood has said the project is exciting for the community and for job seekers, including what he describes as underemployed workers.

Familiar name in Columbia municipal government is now deputy city manager

October 4, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Longtime Columbia Parks and Recreation director Mike Griggs was sworn-in as Columbia’s deputy city manager on October 3, 2022 (photo courtesy of city of Columbia spokeswoman Sydney Olsen)

A familiar name in Columbia and in local government is the new deputy city manager.

Mike Griggs, who had been serving as acting deputy city manager since April, was sworn-in at Monday night’s council meeting.

Mr. Griggs, a Hickman high school, graduate, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mizzou. He worked for Columbia Parks and Recreation for 36 of the past 39 years, including a decade as director. Griggs credits his parks career for preparing him for the transition. He’s worked on urban planning, infrastructure issues, parking lot planning and utilities.

The key hire represents another step in Columbia government, as first-year city manager De’Carlon Seewood continues to build his team.