COLUMBIA, Missouri (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council unanimously approved a water rate increase at its meeting Monday evening.

This summer, the Council discussed the contribution increases for the 2025 budget and listened to feedback from the public over several weeks.

According to the municipal council’s announcement, water tariffs will increase as follows:

• 4% increase in basic fees
• 4% increase in residential Tier 1
• 4% increase in commercial Tier 1
• 4.5% increase at the airport
• 4.5% increase in summer stage 2
• 10% increase in summer stage 3
• 10% more irrigation in summer

“The City Council continues to refuse to hold water utility employees accountable for failing to complete necessary projects, thereby causing unnecessary water rate increases for customers,” Julie Ryan of the COMO Safe Water Coalition wrote in a text message to ABC 17 News. “Approving today’s water rate increase shows that the City Council is willing to approve a solution to the employees’ inability to effectively manage infrastructure. No long-term vision is being pursued, and instead of holding employees accountable for their mistakes, the City Council is willing to go along and become complicit in making ratepayers pay for the negligence.”

The increase would come into effect on October 1.

The full description of the increases can be found in the following document:

New Fire Chief and First Ward Councilwoman Sworn In at Columbia City Council Meeting

The City of Columbia swore in two new officials during Monday night’s City Council meeting.

Brian Schaeffer was sworn in as the city’s next fire chief after being hired in June. Schaeffer was one of four finalists for the position. A city spokeswoman previously told ABC 17 News that Schaeffer was chosen in part because he was able to demonstrate how he used technology to advance his previous departments. One example was his use of AI to identify performance issues, make the best dispatch decisions and find the most efficient routes to emergencies.

Schaeffer previously served as assistant fire chief and fire chief of the Spokane Fire Department. Prior to joining the Spokane Fire Department, he served as assistant fire chief of the Yakima Fire Department in Yakima, Washington, and as deputy fire chief of Yakima Fire District 12.

Schaeffer holds a Master of Leadership from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Bachelor of Science in fire protection from Sterling College in Kansas City, Missouri. He is also a graduate of Freeburg High School in Freeburg, Illinois.

Newly elected First District Councilwoman Valerie Carroll was also sworn in. Carroll was the only candidate on the ballot in a special election held earlier this month. The First District seat became vacant in April after voters recalled former Councilman Nick Knoth. Fifty-seven percent of First District voters voted in favor of the recall. Knoth was recalled after residents raised concerns about his work as a lobbyist for the Missouri Association of REALTORS.

Check back later for updates.