City of Columbia hosts meet and greet with three public works director finalists

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Editor's note: The location of the meet and greet has been corrected.

The City of Columbia held a public meet and greet Thursday with the three final candidates for public works director.

The city's public works director oversees the designing, building, operation and maintenance of the city's streets, bridges, sidewalks and parking infrastructure, as well as public transit.

The director is also responsible for keeping the roads clear during winter storms.

The new director will oversee current capitol improvement projects that include upgrading Forum Boulevard.

City spokeswoman Sydney Olsen said the city used consultants to help identify candidates and has narrowed the search from 15 to 20 candidates to three.

"Tonight the members of the public will have the chance to meet with them in person, have a one-on-one conversation with them, it's just a casual event where people can come and go as they please but provide us back with feedback on who's most qualified for the job and who'd they'd like to see in the position," Olsen said.

Olsen said the city will choose a new director in two to three weeks.

Olsen said a priority for the new director will be public transit.

"We're in the beginning stages of working on a comprehensive transit plan that will take a deep look at Go COMO bus routes and make it more successful and just a better resource. That's a project I can see a candidate jumping in on," Olsen said.

Olsen said the city wants to choose a candidate who best represents the community.

"We really do want to hear from residents," Olsen said. "It's important to us we choose a candidate that reflects our community and our priorities."