Columbia City Council continues to discuss possible change for the temperature threshold to open emergency warming shelters

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council agreed Tuesday night to delay the discussion on changing the temperature threshold to open emergency warming shelters until they receive input from experts.

Due to the forecast showing temperatures for cold weather below 9 degrees, the Columbia announced the opening of a temporary overnight warming center at Wabash Bus Station on Wednesday and Thursday from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The City of Columbia Commission on Human Rights called on City Council Tuesday night to change the opening temperature which is currently set at 9 degrees.

In its report, the commission said there are many cities that have significantly higher thresholds than Columbia including Lawrence, Kansas with a threshold of 35 degrees and St. Peters, Missouri with a threshold of 20 degrees.

The Salvation Army in Columbia and Jefferson City have a threshold of 35 degrees and offer cold cots for when temperatures reach that level.

Curtiss Hartley, the mid-Missouri regional coordinator of the Salvation Army, said he agrees with the commission that the city should look into opening up when temperatures near freezing.

"Many of us who go out shopping or coming home from work after dark, we recognize how cold it can be for the short time that we have to be out there. We can only imagine the discomfort and the frustration, and in fact, the danger as the temperature gets below freezing and keeps dipping lower," Harley said.

One concern that was brought up by the council last night on opening more often is the small amount of staff they have available to monitor the buildings when they are open.

City Manager, De'Carlon Seewood, said the staffing concern is not just with city staff members, but also with the assistance this requires from the police department.

"The center is manned by a police officer so if you raise the temperature, that means you're going to have more opportunities for use, which means currently a police department that's really taxed you're now taking someone to, to provide security for this location," Seewood said.

While some council members are looking for further advice on this topic, others say they can not keep putting this off.

"I just want to be cognizant of the fact that we're in the middle of January so the process of evaluating those things and building out those plans, I mean, this has been a discussion piece since I was on the Human Rights Commission, which is almost been a full year now," said Ward 2 Andrea Waner.

Columbia's overnight warming centers include:

• Room at the Inn, visit roomattheinncomo.org for dates and locations
• Salvation Army Harbor House (men, women and families), 602 N. Ann St.
• Rainbow House (for children/youth), 1611 Towne Dr.
• True North (for domestic violence), please call 573.875.1370
• Welcome Home (for veterans), 2120 Business Loop 70 E.
• St. Francis House (for men), 901 Range Line St. - must be vaccinated to stay overnight

Plus, there are places in Columbia to stay warm during the day.

• ARC (Activity and Recreation Center), 1701 W. Ash St.
• Boone County Government Center, 801 E. Walnut St.
• Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, 1005 W. Worley St.
• Columbia Public Library, 100 W. Broadway
• Salvation Army, 1108 W. Ash St.
• Salvation Army Harbor House, 602 N. Ann St.
• St. Francis House, 901 Range Line St.