City of Columbia dips into reserves to support Ashley Street project

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia is dipping into its budget reserve to give $600,000 to the Ashley Street Center renovation project.

The Ashley Street Center hosts both Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, the Room at the Inn shelter, and outside Como Mobile Aid uses the parking lot for their shower trailer.

This fund follows the $1.2 million the City has allocated from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act.

According to Finance Director Matt Lue, the renovation project was initially funded by ARPA but exceeded the budget.

The City's Public Communications Manager, Sydney Olsen says that the city notices the center provides essential services year-round and that the demand for services has increased.

"We look to how the building can continue to be used in the future, we feel it was appropriate to ask City Council to appropriate additional funds to make these improvements," Olsen said in a statement.

Lue says the project will add two accessible bathrooms, a temporary propane tank, and enhanced security lighting inside the facility. In the trailer area of the facility, there will be permanent hookups for a mobile shower. The city also plans to fix the facility's sewer main.

"The main sewer line leaving the building isn't big, doesn't meet current code, and it gets plugged up a lot so that would be a huge help," Room at the Inn Executive Director John Trapp said.

In an email, Lue said that the city is waiting on finalizing the contract to begin work.

"I'm really happy.  We're looking forward to providing better hygiene and just more services," Trapp said.