The four finalists for Columbia’s next police chief outlined their vision for the future of policing during a community forum last week at city hall. The four also held a meet-and-great with residents, after the forum. The four finalists are, in alphabetical order, former Forest Park (Georgia) and Fort Smith (Arkansas) police chief Nathaniel Clark, Kansas City Police Major Dan Haley, Columbia assistant police chief Jill Schlude and and Greeley Colorado deputy police chief Michael Zeller. Longtime Columbia business leader and banker Bob Roper joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Roper tells listeners that Columbia hasn’t had a lot of luck with outside chiefs, and he also spoke highly of Ms. Schlude. Mr. Parry and Mr. Roper also discussed city manager De’Carlon Seewood’s performance and also talked about the growing issue of homelessness in Columbia:
(LISTEN): Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick discusses Madison trip, homelessness and priorities on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”
Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick is pleased with the Chamber’s recent leadership visit to Madison, Wisconsin. Madison, which has about 270,000 residents, is home to both a state capital and the University of Wisconsin. Mr. McCormick joined host Fred Parry in-studio for an hour on Saturday morning’s 939 the Eagle “CEO Roundtable” program. He tells Mr. Parry that more than 70 Columbia-area business leaders and elected officials made the trip to Madison. Homelessness was a main topic during the trip. Mr. McCormick also highlighted the Columbia chamber’s top legislative priorities on the “CEO Roundtable”, both this year’s and 2024 priorities. Transportation, especially I-70, continues to be a top priority:
(AUDIO): Columbia Chamber leader hopes to have at least 70 people on Madison leadership visit
Columbia business leaders and elected officials will be making their tenth leadership visit this fall to another college town.
Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick tells 939 the Eagle that he’s excited to visit Madison, Wisconsin, which is a state capital and the home to the University of Wisconsin.
“They’re doing some great things around the unhoused and homelessness, some things around medical and a number of other topics. So, we’re meeting here in about a week to sit down and make that agenda and be putting that agenda out here in a couple of weeks. But it’s going to be an exciting trip. It’s going to be a fun trip,” McCormick says.
Columbia’s city council voted in February to approve a permit that allows for the construction and operation of a proposed homeless shelter near the Business Loop.
Madison is larger than Columbia: Madison has about 270,000 residents. Columbia has about 127,000 residents. Mr. McCormick hopes to have anywhere from 70 to 100 people on the September trip.
“It’s one of those things to when we are able to bring community leaders and business leaders along to have those conversations, they can bring that information back to their community to Columbia and say how can we be a part of this, how can we make something like this happen in Columbia,” says McCormick.
Anyone interested in going on the trip is encouraged to contact Mr. McCormick at the chamber.
Columbia’s state of the city address is open to the public
Columbia’s city manager will deliver the annual state of the city address today at city hall.
De’Carlon Seewood will deliver state of the city at noon, and the presentation is open to the public.
Mr. Seewood is expected to outline and highlight major projects that have happened in the past year, and he’s also expected to address some of the challenges the city is facing, including homelessness. Public safety is another topic that could be addressed.
One of Mr. Seewood’s top priorities has been city staff and pay, as well as recruitment of city employees. Columbia’s city employees received a seven percent pay increase last year, three percent in May and another four percent in September. The city of Columbia has about 1,500 employees.
Columbia’s state of the city address is open to the public
Columbia’s city manager will deliver the annual state of the city address today at city hall.
De’Carlon Seewood will deliver state of the city at noon, and the presentation is open to the public.
Mr. Seewood is expected to outline and highlight major projects that have happened in the past year, and he’s also expected to address some of the challenges the city is facing, including homelessness. Public safety is another topic that could be addressed.
One of Mr. Seewood’s top priorities has been city staff and pay, as well as recruitment of city employees. Columbia’s city employees received a seven percent pay increase last year, three percent in May and another four percent in September. The city of Columbia has about 1,500 employees.