Columbia City council approves emergency ordinance corrections and updates multiple job descriptions

The Columbia City Common Council on April 14 approved emergency corrections to two ordinances and updated several city job descriptions.

Council read and approved corrected Ordinance 2025‑27 on first and final reading after staff said the ordinance contained an incorrect legal description; the motion to declare an emergency and approve was made by Dan and seconded by Jennifer and the council approved unanimously.

Council also approved Ordinance 2026‑10 on an emergency basis to correct a calculation error in the city's minimum rates (a one‑penny discrepancy in the initial exhibit). Staff said the rates were recalculated and that no additional public hearing was required.

On personnel matters, council approved a revised storm water supervisor job description that allows the city to hire an experienced operator who may not yet hold specific drinking‑water certifications but would be required to obtain a WT3 within five years and a DSL within two years; council and staff said the change provides flexibility to hire operators with heavy‑equipment and storm‑water experience. Council also approved a packet of updated utility office job descriptions (customer service, utility billing clerk, accounts payable clerk, bookkeeper, cashier, head of maintenance, deputy treasurer and others) with no changes to pay ranges.

Council deferred action on the police administrative secretary position to a future meeting and received staff reports on ongoing infrastructure repairs, downtown events and other projects.