Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood is celebrating his second anniversary on the job. He became city manager in January 2022. Mr. Seewood joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Mr. Seewood, who has 28 years of experience in local government, grew up in East St. Louis Illinois, before moving to Kansas City at the age of 12. He graduated from Kansas City’s Rockhurst University, before earning his master’s degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He began his career in mid-Missouri’s Osage Beach, before moving to Fulton, Ferguson and Berkeley and then to Columbia. Mr. Seewood and Fred focused on numerous topics during the show, including his hiring of new Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude and the current CPD restructuring. Mr. Seewood tells listeners that the overwhelming majority of citizens he’s heard from who served on interview panels and who attended forums are pleased with Chief Schlude’s hire. Mr. Seewood also addressed January’s brutal cold weather and its impact on Columbia’s homeless population. He says Room at the Inn (RATI) traditionally saw about 70 guests prior to the cold spell and that once temperatures dropped to single digits, they reached capacity of 85. Mr. Seewood says no one was turned away and that anyone who wanted shelter received it. Columbia’s Room at the Inn (RATI) is now in the former VFW Post 280 building on Ashley street. It’s located near the city’s municipal power plant:
Columbia officials want your input on roll carts; new system starts in March
You have an opportunity to provide input next week to Columbia officials about the storage of roll carts between collection days.
Columbia Solid Waste will hold an open house-style public meeting next Thursday evening from 5-7 at city hall. That’s on December 14.
City ordinance says roll carts can be placed at the curb no earlier than 4 pm the day before the scheduled collection day and must be removed from the curb no later than 10 pm on that collection day. The ordinance does not specify where carts should be stored outside of that timeframe, others than it must be on private property.
Columbia’s city council voted unanimously in March to approve a roll cart trash collection system, which will start in March. City manager De’Carlon Seewood has said says roll carts improve safety for sanitation employees and also boost efficiency. Roll carts have been debated in Columbia for more than 15 years.
Columbia’s new police chief is sworn-in; recruitment remains a top priority
Columbia’s first female police chief has been sworn-in.
Jill Schlude, who had been serving as CPD’s assistant chief, was sworn-in during Monday night’s city council meeting. She’s been with the department since 2005. Her top priority is answering 911 calls, and she wants to see a recruitment and retention plan in place in the next 90 days.
Columbia Police are currently more than 40 officers short, according to CPD assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter.
18 candidates applied for the position, and city manager De’Carlon Seewood chose Schlude. Mr. Seewood tells 939 the Eagle that she shined during the interview process. Former Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones retired in August, after serving as chief since 2019. Matt Stephens served as the interim chief.
(LISTEN): Columbia’s new police chief to be sworn-in tonight
Columbia’s first female police chief would like to see a recruitment and retention plan in place in the next 90 days.
Columbia assistant police chief Jill Schlude will be sworn-in as chief at tonight’s city council meeting. Recruitment and retention across-the-board is one of her top priorities.
“We have fewer females in the department than over the years when I’ve been there. There’s some great initiatives out there to get more women involved in law enforcement. We … ideally, we talk about this, but ideally our ranks would reflect the community. That’s a very high goal. But I think we can get closer if we’re very mindful and focused on meeting that goal,” Schlude tells reporters.
The 46-year-old Schlude has been with CPD since 2005. Columbia assistant police chief Jeremiah Hunter tells 939 the Eagle that Columbia Police are currently more than 40 officers short. Another top priority for Schlude is answering 911 calls.
18 candidates applied for the position. City manager De’Carlon Seewood made the chief’s selection, telling 939 the Eagle that Schlude will do a great job for the city. Mr. Seewood says that she shined during the interview process, adding that Schlude can make sure the department is constantly moving forward.
“And that continuity of making sure that there’s not a huge interruption, I think she can do that. So I’m excited,” says Schlude.
Chief Schlude’s annual salary will be $165,000. Former Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones retired in August, after serving as chief since 2019. Matt Stephens has been serving as the interim chief.
(LISTEN): Columbia’s new police chief to be sworn-in tonight
Columbia’s first female police chief would like to see a recruitment and retention plan in place in the next 90 days.
Columbia assistant police chief Jill Schlude will be sworn-in as chief at tonight’s city council meeting. Recruitment and retention across-the-board is one of her top priorities.
“We have fewer females in the department than over the years when I’ve been there. There’s some great initiatives out there to get more women involved in law enforcement. We … ideally, we talk about this, but ideally our ranks would reflect the community. That’s a very high goal. But I think we can get closer if we’re very mindful and focused on meeting that goal,” Schlude tells reporters.
The 46-year-old Schlude has been with CPD since 2005. Columbia assistant police chief Jeremiah Hunter tells 939 the Eagle that Columbia Police are currently more than 40 officers short. Another top priority for Schlude is answering 911 calls.
18 candidates applied for the position. City manager De’Carlon Seewood made the chief’s selection, telling 939 the Eagle that Schlude will do a great job for the city. Mr. Seewood says that she shined during the interview process, adding that Schlude can make sure the department is constantly moving forward.
“And that continuity of making sure that there’s not a huge interruption, I think she can do that. So I’m excited,” says Schlude.
Chief Schlude’s annual salary will be $165,000. Former Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones retired in August, after serving as chief since 2019. Matt Stephens has been serving as the interim chief.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 24
- Next Page »