City council delays vote on rules, charges for utility companies

The Columbia City Council delayed a vote on new rules for utility companies working in the public right-of-way.

The rules would require companies to apply for permits before beginning work that might close roads or sidewalks. Companies like Boone Electric Cooperative, Ameren or Mediacom would need to submit traffic plans to the city’s Community Development Department if they did close public facilities, and get on-site city inspection of the repairs made.

City staff members said that right now, companies begin excavating and work without notice to the city. The new rules would allow better oversight of the process, including a way to track companies that might damage sidewalks or roads.

Members of Boone Electric Cooperative said the new rules may violate state law, and asked the city delay the vote for further legal review. The also said the new rules would make it harder for them to repair their wires and poles in a timely way.

The city council voted unanimously to table the vote until Oct. 16.

Staff members estimated the new permitting process would bring in $84,000, with most of that going towards increased staff costs to review the work applications.

The city council approved a “public inconvenience fee” last year for companies that close roads, sidewalks, parking spaces and alleys for construction projects. The Community Development Department reported that it collected more than $12,000 so far through those fees.