[1] Safer waters
The Missouri Coalition for the Environment, an environmental group based in St. Louis, wants Missouri to stop funding a water study that determines the depth of streams.
The study measures whether streams are one meter or less in depth, which is considered sufficient for swimming by the Department of Natural Resources. Streams that meet this requirement have to be cleaner than those that are not considered sufficient in depth for swimming.
The coalition believes the study fails to accurately determine which streams are used for swimming, saying that even shallow streams are used for recreation, especially by children.
Department officials are spending about $300,000 this year on private studies used to exempt some 220 small streams statewide from a key water-protection measure, the coalition said.
The coalition also said the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees clean water law, had in many cases rejected the state’s findings. Despite the rejections, the state is using taxpayer funds to redo the same studies.
What steps do you think need to be taken to keep Missouri’s recreational water clean and safe?
[2] Party on, dude
An ordinance kicked in last week that holds landlords responsible for the noise level of their tenants. If landlords are unable to keep their tenants from having loud parties, they could lose the right to rent their properties.
A nuisance party is defined in the ordinance as a noisy social gathering of 10 or more people where underage drinking, fighting, outdoor urination or drug use are taking place.
When the ordinance was proposed in May 2004, the Columbia Apartment Association wrote a letter of opposition to the mayor, City Council and the city’s legal department.
In the letter, the apartment association says the problems the ordinance addresses are the police department’s responsibility.
Columbia police Officer Tim Thomason, coordinator of the department’s Crime Free Programs, said that it was not possible for the city’s 147 police officers to control the nuisance party problem alone.
Landlords are concerned about the financial loss that will result from enforcement of the new section.
Is there a better way to enforce the noise ordinance without holding landlords responsible for violations?
[3] High School confidential
Columbia officials say they want to establish closer ties with Columbia Public Schools after the district failed to consult them when deciding to locate a high school three miles east of the city limits.
“I think it would be really good for there to be a closer connection between the school district, the city and Boone County, too,” said Jeff Barrow, chairman of the Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission. “It would be really helpful for us.”
Brent Ghan, a spokesman for the Missouri School Boards Association, said the agency encourages school boards to have strong relationships with other government agencies. Columbia school board President Karla DeSpain said it’s important for the school district to work closely with the city, but having too many people involved in discussions can become a burden.
“I don’t think you can have everybody involved in the city processes involved in the school processes as well,” DeSpain said. “That’s just too many hands in the pot.”
What city and county groups should have input in choosing a location for a new school?
[4] Party on, Chris
Missouri state senator and likely attorney general candidate Chris Koster announced Wednesday morning that he is leaving the Republican Party and joining the Democrats.
In a speech in front of the MU Columns, Koster said one of the main reasons for his split is the GOP’s efforts to criminalize embryonic stem cell research. Koster, who described himself as a moderate, said he welcomes the opportunity for such research in Missouri.
Jared Craighead, executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, issued a statement Wednesday calling Koster’s decision a calculated attempt to win the attorney general primaries. State Rep. Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, is also running for the statewide post.
“Simply stated, Chris has done the political calculus and does not believe he can win a Republican primary and does not believe that Jeff Harris is a formidable opponent,” Craighead said.
Minority Floor Leader Maida Coleman said she welcomes Koster to the Democratic Party. The change creates a Senate split of 19 Republicans to 14 Democrats, with one vacancy.
Why do you think Koster switched to the Democratic party?
[5] Bridge Danger
Last week, a bridge across the Mississippi River in Minnesota collapsed, killing at least four people, with many still missing. Gov. Blunt ordered an inspection of a bridge over Highway 5 at the Lake of the Ozarks that is the only one in Missouri designed similar to the bridge in Minneapolis, said Eric Schroeter, of the Missouri Department of Transportation.
A department project, known as the Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program, plans to repair 800 of the state’s worst bridges, but has been delayed until September because of legal issues.
The Transportation Department originally planned to hire contractors by July and begin construction as early as September.
But the improvement program has been delayed over concerns that a performance bond, the funding required by state law, is not available for such a large project.
Officials have no reason to believe the Highway 5 bridge is unsafe but are inspecting it to confirm this, a spokeswoman for Gov. Matt Blunt said.
Would you be willing to pay more in taxes to ensure that Missouri’s bridges are in top condition?