Columbia City Council, School Board elections Tuesday by Grace Lyden

Five candidates are running for two seats on the City Council. The Second Ward candidates are Mike Atkinson, Bill Pauls and Michael Trapp. Candidates in the race for the Sixth Ward are incumbent Barbara Hoppe and Bill Tillotson. Rex Cone, Paul Cushing, Christine King and Melvin Blase are the four candidates running for the two open spots on the city’s Board of Education. A proposed 40-cent increase in the district’s property tax levy intended to rake in $8 million to maintain programs is one of two proposals also on the ballot. The second is a $50 million bond issue that would raise money for the construction of elementary schools and renovation of current infrastructure.

Columbia City Council votes to table rezoning request by Antony Lee

The request would have enabled a local developer to build several condominiums at the southeast corner of Garth Avenue and Blue Ridge Road. Initially, JQB Construction received approval from the Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission to build 76 multi-family dwelling units on 15 acres, but still required final approval from the council. After hearing from residents, the council voted 6-1 to table the request for two weeks to further discuss the development plans.

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