City of Columbia to hold open house on new storage center for snowplows, salt
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia will hold an open house next week regarding the construction of a new Municipal Services Center.
According to a Thursday press release from the city, the Municipal Services Center master concept plan includes a salt storage building, storage for snowplows and salt distribution equipment, vehicle parking, an office, electric vehicle charging stations and a refueling facility.
Columbia Public Works spokesman John Ogan said the city is planning to put the building near the intersection of West Nifong Boulevard and Sinclair Road, South of Mill Creek Elementary. The land for the center was bought Dec. 16 2022, with the intention of it being used for Public Works services, according to a press release. The open house will be held 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mill Creek Elementary.
The open house will be held 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mill Creek Elementary.
Currently, the city only has one salt dome located on Big Bear Boulevard on the north side of town.
"The city of Columbia Public Works is responsible for about 1,400 lane miles of road and that extends all throughout the city," Ogan said. "So, when a winter weather system comes through, we have to respond to it, whether that be pre-treating the roads or plowing snow."
The location of the salt dome becomes problematic for crews when they have to treat the roads on the south side of the town, because they have to travel back to the north side to refill their trucks. Wait times can reach up to two-and-a-half hours, according to Ogan.
Ogan said the city believes it can cut down the response time by adding the new facility.
"We want to have more plows on the South end of the city as well as the North where they currently are, so that we can dispatch plows to salt roads...to plow roads within a good amount of time," Ogan said.
Phase one of the plan includes adding a salt dome and parking for snow plows.
According to a master plan, additional services could include an office, electric vehicle charging stations and a refueling facility.
Luke Humphreys lives in Columbia and said he supports the idea of a new facility.
"Strategically, if it's co-located or located outside of the current location, faster response times are never a bad thing," Humphreys said.
Ogan said once the city finishes its design plan for the facility it will be brought to the city council. If approved, the city hopes to begin developing the building in 2025.
