GoCOMO bus system | 98.3 The Dove

Columbia’s bus system needs 23 more drivers to be fully-staffed

September 8, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia Public Works says its GoCOMO bus system is a dozen to two dozen operators short.

Public Works spokesman John Ogan says GoCOMO currently has 22 full-time operators and three part-time operators on-staff. Operators are bus drivers. Mr. Ogan tells 939 the Eagle that they’d like to have a total of 36 operators to eliminate the need for required overtime and keep overtime on a voluntary basis. Ogan adds that they would consider 45 employees to be the definition of fully-staffed, saying that number would represent every position being filled, in each area of GoCOMO.

The bus system says they’re actively conducting interviews for both bus and paratransit van operator positions as they receive applications. Mr. Ogan says GoCOMO is currently requiring operators to work four hours per week in overtime, adding this is down from the 12 hours of overtime per week drivers were previously required to work.

(AUDIO): Law enforcement will be a topic of discussion at Columbia’s city council meeting

June 20, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood (2023 file photo courtesy of city of Columbia website)

Columbia’s city manager says he supports Columbia’s police officers. 75 percent of Columbia’s general fund is for public safety, under the last budget proposed by city manager De’Carlon Seewood and approved by the city council.

“In our current climate, there are a lot of outside voices that distrust law enforcement. And that doesn’t mean that the city takes that same stance. You know our goal is to try to make sure that we provide the best benefits for our citizens and provide the best benefit for our employees. And so if the question is do I feel like I have a great relationship with our police department, I believe so,” Seewood says.

Mr. Seewood spoke to reporters following his recent state of the city address. His proposed 2022-2023 budget that was approved by the council increased staffing for Columbia Police, including funding for three airport safety officers, a new police sergeant and a crime scene investigator.

Meantime, a former Columbia mayoral candidate is calling on the city council to support the Columbia Police Department. Randy Minchew will address the city council this evening from the podium. He plans to express his support for CPD and his desire to see the council support them as well. While Minchew won several wards in Columbia’s April 2022 mayoral election, Barbara Buffaloe beat him citywide by about 800 votes. Buffaloe received 8,528 votes to Minchew’s 7,728, and Columbia’s fourth ward provided Mayor Buffaloe’s margin of victory.

Another resident, Christopher Dignan, will also address the council tonight. His presentation is titled “corruption within the police force and Boone County Sheriff’s Department.”

Other speakers tonight plan to address garbage collection, Columbia’s GoCOMO transit system and greenhouse gas production. Tonight’s meeting begins at 7.

Seewood: federal grant helping to keep Columbia’s bus system fare free

September 20, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Passengers prepare to board a GoCOMO bus at downtown Columbia’s Wabash station on September 16, 2022 (photo courtesy of Columbia Public Works spokesman John Ogan)

Columbia’s city council has voted to suspend transportation fares for users of the GoCOMO bus system for the next fiscal year.

City manager De’Carlon Seewood says GoCOMO has the ability to manage expenses with current Columbia transportation sales tax funding and with a grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The bus system has been operating fare-free since the March 2020 COVID-related emergency declaration. GoCOMO says 43,321 passengers ride the city’s bus system each month.