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MENACE TO COLUMBIA: Consultant's report trashes central city, but conclusions don't jibe with findings

MENACE TO COLUMBIA: Consultant's report trashes central city, but conclusions don't jibe with findings

City Hall's "outrageous" and "offensive" waste of $60,000
 
COLUMBIA, Mo 7/23/14 (Beat Byte) --  A $60,000 consultant report declares central Columbia a "menace to the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public," under Missouri law the first legal step toward the use of eminent domain and developer tax incentives such as TIF.  

Filled with inconsistencies, contradictions, and incomplete information, the report was released by Columbia city manager Mike Matthes and his deputy, Tony St. Romaine earlier this month.   Prepared by St. Louis-based Development Strategies , the report renames roughly 577 acres bordered by Interstate 70, College Avenue, parts of Mizzou, and Providence Road the Central Columbia TIF Redevelopment Area .  

Not surprisingly, the incentive area sharply detours from its eastern Pr...

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NAUSER RANT: Councilwoman blames homeowners for sewer problems

NAUSER RANT: Councilwoman blames homeowners for sewer problems

"We really need to look at specific individuals who are causing this problem ...."

COLUMBIA, Mo 7/22/14 (Beat Byte) -- Homeowners and renters who have struggled for years with basement sewer backups, overflowing storm drains, and yard flooding have only themselves to blame for Columbia's longstanding sewer problems, Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser declared repeatedly at last night's Council meeting. 

"We're fixing this problem with infiltration and inflow that a lot of residents themselves are causing, specifically because their downspouts are going into our water system," Nauser said.   "The community is funding their improvements to solve the problems they're causing ." 

Measures to correct so-called "infiltration and inflow" (I&I) -- entry of stormwater into the sanitary sewer system -- inc...

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MORE OPUS FALLOUT: City Hall quietly changing special meeting law that helped prompt petition drive

MORE OPUS FALLOUT: City Hall quietly changing special meeting law that helped prompt petition drive

If you're powerful, and don't like a law, just change it

COLUMBIA, Mo 7/21/14 (Beat Byte) -- In a remarkable admission of guilt, Columbia city officials are quietly changing a city law that requires a police officer to personally notify City Council members of special meetings.  

City Manager Mike Matthes violated the law when he emailed Council members in March to attend a special meeting to approve three student apartments, including the Opus project downtown.  Public uproar over the violation was partly responsible for two petitions to halt the Opus project. 

Columbia City Ordinance 2-22 requires "a police officer to serve a notice upon the members of the Council of the time fixed for such special meeting , or leave a copy of such notice at the usual place of residence or business of such Council memb...

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FAIRGROUNDS FAIL, PART THREE: A developer handout in need of a taxpayer bailout

FAIRGROUNDS FAIL, PART THREE: A developer handout in need of a taxpayer bailout

"No stronger Good-Ol’-Boy network exists in Boone County"

COLUMBIA, Mo 7/20/14 (Feature) -- "I’d really hoped the Boone County Commission could strike a practical, profitable deal for the lease of the Boone County Fairground," beloved Columbia Daily Tribune columnist Forrest Rose wrote .   Instead, Commissioners struck a deal "that would take more than 200 years for the county to break even."

It was the first of many deals, plans, concoctions, schemes, and notions County Commissioners entertained to keep the Fairgrounds afloat.   A hockey rink.  A baseball stadium for the minor league Mavericks .    An ice arena .

Buying it for $2.6 million from the bankrupt Boone County Agricultural and Mechanical Society (BCAMS), they are asking voters August 5th to pass a 6 year, $12-18 million sales tax to bail it out .   Kn...

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FAIRGROUNDS FAIL, PART TWO: Why the public opposed Boone County's $2.6 million purchase

FAIRGROUNDS FAIL, PART TWO: Why the public opposed Boone County's $2.6 million purchase

"The Boone County Commission got a white elephant....
FAIRGROUNDS FAIL, PART ONE: Fifteen years and a dozen plans later, Boone County wants a taxpayer bailout

FAIRGROUNDS FAIL, PART ONE: Fifteen years and a dozen plans later, Boone County wants a taxpayer bailout

Developers have had a mysterious and enduring inte...
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE: A Columbia man notorious for shootings faces another felony

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE: A Columbia man notorious for shootings faces another felony

A famous local outlaw, back on the streets
 
COLUMBI...
FORSAKING THE FOUNDERS: An unwarranted search complicates a CoMo police investigation

FORSAKING THE FOUNDERS: An unwarranted search complicates a CoMo police investigation

Both sides escalate a straightforward case , Part 2 ...

FORSAKING THE FOUNDERS: Experts contest expanded police search of CoMo family's apartment

FORSAKING THE FOUNDERS: Experts contest expanded police search of CoMo family's apartment

Warrants shall "particularly describe the place to...

FORSAKING THE FOUNDERS: With an illegal search and seizure, did Columbia police protect -- or imperil -- the public safety? Part 1

FORSAKING THE FOUNDERS: With an illegal search and seizure, did Columbia police protect -- or imperil -- the public safety? Part 1

Can the safety of a few jeopardize the security of...
LAME DUCK DYNASTY: Mayor's violence task force members express anger, frustration

LAME DUCK DYNASTY: Mayor's violence task force members express anger, frustration

Fed up with late arrivals, lack of quorum, summer ...
REMEMBER RYAN: One reason I'm voting NO on the Boone County fairgrounds tax

REMEMBER RYAN: One reason I'm voting NO on the Boone County fairgrounds tax

Money "going down a rat hole" 

COLUMBIA, Mo 7/9/14 ...
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"Keep the Heart Beating" Spring Fundraiser Goal Met!

ARTISTS OF THE MONTH: Elizabeth Braaten Palmieri and Emily Adams

CoMo Cam: July Artists of the Month

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greenhouse Theatre's Romeo and Juliet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greenhouse Theatre's Three Sisters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greenhouse Theatre's Tartuffe

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mizzou

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PINK RIBBON CHRONICLE

THE DISTRICT

 

 

 

 

 

COPS AND CRIME


 

 

 

 

REMEMBERING

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Around

CoMo Calendar

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