Columbia’s City Council

Columbia city officials unveil proposed $6-million improvement at Philips park

March 23, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The Columbia Sports Fieldhouse is located in the A. Perry Philips park, near Fr. Tolton high school (2023 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 will be voted on in April by the city council. The measure was first-read this week.

Under the five-page proposed ordinance, 44,000 square feet would be added to the sports fieldhouse, including four hardwood courts, a multipurpose room and seating area, walkways, additional parking lots and improved lighting.

The project has three funding sources: the 2021 park sales tax, the CVB tourism development fund and Columbia’s general fund.

The busy Columbia Sports Fieldhouse in Perry Philips park near Highway 63 and Grindstone hosted basketball games and practices for 120 local teams and 1,200 kids in 2022 and has also hosted competitions for numerous other sports. They include volleyball, pickleball, wrestling, dance and cheer.

If the council approves the project, Columbia Parks and Recreation officials expect it to be done by the fall of 2024, weather permitting.

Perennial roll cart issue to be voted on Monday by Columbia’s city council

March 20, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

A Columbia solid waste employee prepares to pick up trash (2022 file photo courtesy of Matt Nestor with the city)

A proposed roll cart trash collection system is set to be voted on by Columbia’s city council tonight.

Mayor Barbara Buffaloe has said that trash was the biggest issue she heard about as she campaigned door-to-door last spring.

Columbia officials envision the roll cart trash system becoming effective in March 2024, if the city council approves the changes. Under the proposed ordinance, all residential curbside customers would receive a trash roll cart. You’ll be able to choose a 35-gallon, 65-gallon or 95-gallon cart. The 35-gallon cart would be $12.87 per month, while the 65-gallon cart would be $17.37 per month. A 95-gallon cart would be $22.50 per month.

City officials say the purchase of roll carts and the lease of vehicles will cost the city about $3-million. City manager De’Carlon Seewood says the money is available in this year’s budget. He’s recommending approval of the ordinance.

The perennial roll cart issue has divided residents for more than a decade. 892 Columbia residents took a recent survey. While more than two-thirds of them are open to the idea of changing from bags to bins, opponents argue roll carts are awkward, clumsy and roll away.

If the council approves the proposal tonight, Columbia residents would begin using roll carts for their trash in one year. Under the bill, carts could be placed at the curb or alley no earlier than 4 pm on the day preceding collection and no later than 6:30 am on collection day. They would have to be removed from the curb by 10 pm on collection day.

Critics include some senior citizens, who say the carts are difficult to move. Other critics say raccoons and other animals will get inside the carts.

The council’s packet says if the council approves the project, the city will hire an education and communications consultant to implement an educational program to inform and educate customers on the roll cart changes. 939 the Eagle News asked Columbia spokeswoman Sydney Olsen if the city has an approximate cost for how much the consultant will cost. Olsen says the city doesn’t have one yet, but notes there will be an RFP (a request for proposal) issued.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 7 at city hall.

New Sonic being built in fast-growing south Columbia

March 14, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Developers plan to build a new 1,800 square foot Sonic on this property near Nifong and Buttonwood (March 13, 2023 photo from 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth)

Columbia-area diners will soon have a new, larger Sonic option.

Columbia development services manager Patrick Zenner tells 939 the Eagle that the new development underway at the former KFC property at Nifong and Buttonwood is associated with the new Sonic.

Columbia’s city council voted in December 2021 to approve a plan from the D-L Rogers Corporation to build a new 1800 square foot Sonic at the former KFC.

The new Sonic will also include a drive-though. It’s located near Como Smoke and Fire and Andy’s Frozen Custard.

Veterans United Foundation donates $50,000 for basketball project at Columbia park

March 10, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia-area residents play basketball at Douglas Park (2022 file photo courtesy of Columbia Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Tammy Miller)

Look for new basketball goals and scoreboards at Columbia’s Douglass Park on Providence.

Columbia’s city council has voted to accept a $50,000 donation from the Veterans United Foundation to fund the project, which will also include construction of a small shelter near the courts and court refinishing and painting. The current court and goals are aging.

Columbia Parks and Recreation says the city is adding $225,000 in voter-approved capital improvement park sales tax dollars.

Staff expects the project to be done by October, weather permitting.

(AUDIO): Columbia Chamber considering two Big Ten towns for leadership trip

March 8, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick (left) visit with Leadership Columbia participants on March 7, 2023 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Columbia business leaders will be choosing one of two major college towns for their leadership visit this fall.

This will be the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s tenth trip. They visited College Station, Texas in October. Chamber president Matt McCormick tells 939 the Eagle they’re looking at two Big Ten college towns for this year’s trip.

“We actually have two cities on our docket that we’ve looked at. One is Madison, Wisconsin. The other is Lincoln, Nebraska. We always go to a university town, because there’s something special about a university town,” Mr. McCormick says.

The University of Wisconsin is located in Madison, and the University of Nebraska’s main campus is in Lincoln. Previous visits have included Ann Arbor, Tuscaloosa and Athens, Georgia.

“Homelessness is one of those issues that we know Madison has addressed a great deal, and so we’d like to learn from them what they’ve worked on,” says McCormick.

Columbia’s city council voted in February to approve a permit that allows for the construction and operation of a proposed 120-bed homeless shelter near Columbia’s power plant and former VFW post.