Local Government

The city's financial picture is stable as a result of good foresight, said City Manager Bill Watkins. Future stability will depend on preparing for trouble yet to come.

The 1/8-cent sales tax is citywide and voters first passed it in 2000. It was extended by the voters in 2005, and the tax will raise an estimated $12 million dollars if extended for another five years.

State Public Defender Deputy Director Cat Kelly said Missouri would have needed to more than double the number of defense lawyers to keep up with caseloads.

Council sets Oct. 18 as decision day for two annexation proposals along Richland Road. The requests were first made in November 2008.

Council members expressed concern over the design before voting 6-1 to approve it.

As you walk or drive around Columbia, you will see a variety of public art. Some of it has been created through the city's Percent for Art program. The most recent is "Keys to the City" at Eighth Street and Broadway. There are nine others works installed and six more planned.

The City Council plans to swear in the new Water and Light director, Tad Johnsen, and discuss two annexation proposals along Richland Road.

Columbia bus routes and schedules are set to undergo major changes beginning Aug. 2. The hope is that the increased north, east and west routes will allow individuals greater employment opportunities and Saturday services will mirror weekday schedules to lessen confusion.

The presiding Boone County Commissioner is Ken Pearson, who has held the position for four years.

The ordinance, if passed, would regulate the size, height and distance of the piles from homes, among other things.

A design was unanimously recommended by the Commission on Cultural Affairs and is set to be presented to the City Council on Monday.

All bus routes will be modified, new areas of service will be added and the Saturday service will mirror the weekday schedule.

More than 900 additional signatures were added Tuesday to the petition that would ban Taser use in Columbia. The petition had been 494 signatures short of being presented to the City Council.

Voters must mail their registration or go to the county clerk's office by 5 p.m. Wednesday in order to vote in August's primary election.

At the City Council meeting Tuesday, public hearing for changes in the bus routes and H3 Studio's presentation on the downtown planning charrette are on the agenda.

The Standing Committee for Public Art will review comments Friday on a proposed design for the garage that is scheduled to be built at the intersection of Fifth and Walnut.

The Boone County Commission approved a $3.9 million expansion and renovation of the Boone County Government Center and the former Johnson paint company building during a Tuesday meeting.

Susan Kohler, who kept 32 cats in a Motel 6, 28 alive and four dead, plans to petition the Columbia/Boone County Public Heath and Human Services Department to remove her cats from the Central Missouri Humane Society.

Columbia residents should avoid calling 911 for fireworks complaints and instead call the city's non-emergency telephone number. If someone is injured while using fireworks, even while illegally within the city limits, residents should call 911.

Officials from Columbia and Boone County held the fourth meeting in a series of public comment sessions about the East Area Plan, which looks at the future of development in east Columbia.