Ask City Manager De’Carlon Seewood

Thank you for your comment. We understand that the appearance of some Roadside Pollinator Program areas can be different from a traditional mowed turf median, and we appreciate residents sharing their concerns about visibility and aesthetics. Street division supervisors are currently reviewing pollinator areas throughout the city, including locations where visibility or appearance may need additional attention. These areas are designed to support pollinators, reduce mowing needs and emissions, and improve safety by limiting the amount of mowing required near higher-speed roadways. Once again, thank you for sharing your feedback; it is helpful to hear your perspective!

National Night Out is a wonderful opportunity for our police officers and command staff to connect with our community.  Each year, we enjoy meeting residents and spending time together, learning what helps people feel safe in their neighborhoods.  Please let us know if you are planning an event and would like officers to stop by!

Thank you for sharing your concerns.  Your comments will be shared with our Utilities staff and City Council members as well. We appreciate hearing the perspective of residents like you who live near the proposed transmission line route, and your concerns are understandable.  We are very early in the process, so it is good for us to take note of these details now as plans are being made.  Our staff will work closely with the company that is contracted to install the lines to ensure access and traffic flow are safe and efficient throughout the process.  We also will be absolutely sure that safety vehicles have the access they need to keep all residents safe.

Thank you for sharing your experience and concerns.  The City cannot impose restrictions on the rates charged for rental properties.  State law (section 441.043, RSMo) prohibits cities and counties from regulating the amount of rent to be charged for privately-owned, single-family, or multiple-unit residential or commercial rental property. 

We are fortunate to have community partners working to alleviate some of the stressors you are experiencing.  Love Columbia is one such partner, and they may be able to help you secure something more affordable.  They recommend these resources:  https://lovecolumbia.org/housing-list. 

Thank you for your question, and for your concern for fellow residents.  Safety for everyone is a top priority for our city.  If you see this type of behavior again, please call 311 so our police officers can respond.

We absolutely have laws about this.  

Under City of Columbia Ordinance 14-493, it is illegal for anyone under the age of sixteen (16) to operate a motor-propelled scooter on any city street, sidewalk, or thoroughfare. The ordinance definition of motor-propelled scooter is very broad and encompasses most electric or motorized forms of transportation, such as e-scooters, hoverboards, or powered bikes that are not equipped with functioning pedals. These devices are also considered motor vehicles under Missouri law. The scooters do not have to be registered, but to legally operate on public roadways, a person must hold a valid driver’s license. Electric bicycles equipped with functioning pedals are the only common exception, and even then, riders must follow all applicable traffic laws and safety regulations.

These devices have become increasingly common around schools and neighborhoods, and while they may seem convenient, their use by students creates significant safety concerns, particularly in high-traffic areas during school arrival and dismissal times. It may be that parents are unaware that use of these devices on public streets and sidewalks is illegal for those under the age of 16. We are hopeful that we can continue to educate the public and work together to keep everyone safe.

Thanks again for reaching out.  Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Thank you for your message!  You are absolutely correct that infrastructure must be considered as we continue to grow as a city. 

The strategic plan is being updated now.  As Columbia continues to grow and evolve, it is important that we update that plan so it reflects current realities and helps guide us into the future. Just as important is ensuring that this update is shaped directly by people like you who live and work in this community, as your input is essential to setting our priorities moving forward.  Please take a minute to visit CoMo.gov/strategic-update and also share your perspective there.

Hello Jim. It looks like Public Works staff were able to respond to your request. Please let us know if you require any further assistance. 

Thank you for your comment. The Route K and Old Plank Road roundabout project was approved by the Columbia City Council on June 5, 2023. Because Route K is a state-maintained roadway and Old Plank Road is maintained by the City, the work has been a joint project between MoDOT and the City of Columbia.

The project is designed to improve safety and traffic flow by replacing the skewed intersection with a modern roundabout. The hill on Route K is also being lowered to improve sight distance, and new sidewalks and crosswalks are being added for people walking in the area.

Construction began July 28, 2025, following earlier delays (unforeseen utility conflicts and unsuitable material) that pushed the start date later than planned. The original goal was to begin work in May. The later start shifted the active phases into the fall and winter months and extended detour impacts for drivers throughout the area.

Regarding Sinclair Road, once the new elementary school opens in 2026, CPS will be able to handle student drop-off and pick-up within school property, which should reduce some of the current congestion during peak hours. Additionally, improvements to Sinclair Road are part of a future Capital Improvement Project, although funding for that project via the sales tax will not be completed until 2030.

We appreciate your engagement. Phase three is scheduled to end Dec. 26, weather permitting, which will allow Route K to reopen to through traffic.

Thank you for your kind words, which will be shared with the staff.  The food containers you are describing remain among the materials we ask residents to place in their blue bags for collection.  The bottles and jars you are describing are made of valuable plastics that are easily repurposed for other products.

Thank you for your question, Ruth. 

All City streets, including those in the Cimarron, Greenbriar, and Trail Ridge subdivisions, have been plowed since Monday, when we transitioned our efforts from priority streets to neighborhood streets. However, many neighborhood streets may still appear snow-packed in some areas. Additionally, crews are continuing to address the most current weather conditions. 

Our snow response prioritizes making streets passable rather than completely clear. A passable street means that a vehicle with front-wheel drive, traveling well below the speed limit and using appropriate winter driving techniques, can navigate it safely.

Achieving fully cleared, bare wheel paths on every street would require a significant increase in resources, including more trucks, salt, and drivers. Given Missouri’s relatively mild winters, we believe that level of investment would be excessive, especially when residents can adapt by driving slower and more cautiously in neighborhoods.

Under the City’s priority road system for winter weather response, we focus our efforts on high-volume roads to ensure public safety and maintain essential travel routes. These priority roads are strategically located to ensure they are generally within 1,000 feet or less of every residence in town. This allows residents to navigate only a short distance on untreated streets before reaching a plowed and treated priority road. These priority routes are maintained continuously, 24 hours a day, during a winter storm, which is why they may appear clearer than residential streets.

Our Housing and Neighborhood Services department will have one of our staff members visit the area, and we can send a notice to the owner regarding the snow and ice covered sidewalks.  Sidewalk snow removal violations are primarily complaint-driven due to the many properties throughout the City that are not in compliance. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.