Columbia City Council approves water rate increase
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia City Council unanimously passed a water rate increase at its Monday night meeting.
The council had discussed the rate increases for the fiscal year 2025 budget this summer and heard public feedback over several weeks.
According to the council memo, the water rate increases go as follows:
- 4% increase in base fees
- 4% increase in residential tier 1
- 4% increase in commercial tier 1
- 4.5% increase in Airport
- 4.5% increase in summer tier 2
- 10% increase in summer tier 3
- 10% increase in irrigation summer
“City Council continues to refuse to hold water utility staff accountable for failure to execute needed projects, therefore causing unnecessary increases in water rates for customers,” Julie Ryan, of the COMO Safe Water Coalition, wrote to ABC 17 News in a text message. “The approval of tonight's water rate increase shows that Council is willing to approve a fix for staff's inability to effectively manage infrastructure. There is no long-term vision that is being followed and instead of holding staff accountable for failures, Council is willing to go along and become accomplices in making ratepayers fund the negligence.”
The increase would take effect on Oct. 1.
View the full description of the increases in the document below:
New fire chief, First Ward councilwoman sworn in at Columbia City Council meeting
The City of Columbia swore in two new officials during Monday night's City Council meeting.
Brian Schaeffer was sworn in as the next fire chief for the city, after being hired in June. Schaeffer was one-of-four finalists for the position. A city spokeswoman previously told ABC 17 News that Schaeffer was selected thanks in part to his ability to show how he’s used technology to advance his previous departments forward. An example of this was his use of AI to help identify performance problems, pinpoint the best deployment decisions, and find the most efficient routes to emergencies.
Schaeffer previously served as an assistant fire chief and fire chief for the Spokane Fire Department. Before joining the Spokane Fire Department he was the deputy fire chief at the Yakima Fire Department in Yakima, Washington, and deputy fire chief at Yakima Fire District 12.
Schaeffer earned a master of leadership degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, a master of public administration degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a bachelor of science degree in fire science from Sterling College in Kansas City, Missouri. He is also a graduate of Freeburg High School in Freeburg, Illinois.
Newly elected First Ward Councilwoman Valerie Carroll was also sworn in. Carroll was the lone candidate on the ballot during a special election held earlier this month. The Ward 1 seat was vacated in April after voters recalled former Councilman Nick Knoth. Fifty-seven percent of First Ward voters voted in favor of the recall. Knoth was recalled following residents’ concerns over his job as a lobbyist for the Missouri Association of REALTORS.
