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Columbia City Council approves $215 million waterworks bond, multiple construction contracts and event permits; public raises police harassment concerns
Summary
At its regular meeting the City Council approved a $215 million waterworks and sewer bond ordinance, awarded construction and professional services contracts including a $10.7 million fire station contract and a $16.1 million water-improvement contract, approved several encroachment and conveyance ordinances, and heard public comments including allegations of police harassment.
Columbia Mayor Daniel J. Rickman and the City Council on Wednesday approved a package of financing, construction contracts and permits that the city says will support water-system projects, public-safety facilities and special events while also hearing public comment that included praise for nursing and an allegation of repeated police harassment.
The most consequential action was passage of Ordinance No. 2025-093, authorizing up to $215,000,000 in City of Columbia Waterworks and Sewer System revenue bonds. Finance staff said about $50 million of that sum would fund new capital projects included in the city's capital improvement program, roughly $150 million would be used to refund existing indebtedness and up to $14 million could cover issuance and related costs. "So tonight's bond request is for a total of $215,000,000," a finance official told the council while describing how the proceeds would be allocated.
Council members also approved several large construction contracts and amendments tied to ongoing capital work. The council approved a contract…
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