Council votes on utility hikes, Maryland Ave. name change

Columbia residents gathered Tuesday at City Hall to show their support for several issues, with the city’s budget dominating the proceedings.

The council originally had set aside $4,000 in its budget for the Citizens Police Review Board, but several people at the meeting asked the Council to give the CPRB more money.

"I feel that this organization has worked so hard to form, and to give them $4,000 to work with, well, that would just be inappropriate," Columbia attorney David Smith said.

The CPRB had asked for $10,000, mainly to hire private investigators for some cases.

CPRB Vice Chairman James Martin echoed Smith’s sentiments, citing the need for investigators.

"We need to hire these investigators," Martin said. "Not having a professional investigator can hurt your case's credibility."

Smith added that investigators are not necessary for all cases, but in the event they are used they could cost between $300 and $400 per case.

Second Ward City Councilman Jason Thornhill estimated the costs of investigators for eight cases spanning one year and reasoned that with the cost of the investigators and other necessary expenses, the CPRB would need about $8,700. Other members of the council voiced their support for Thornhill's motion to amend the budget to allow the increase in funding.

"In these times it is important that we do not underfund this project," First Councilman Paul Sturtz said. "It is giving citizens trust in their police department."

When the motion went up for vote, it passed 6-1. Mayor Bob McDavid said he felt "uneasy" about the decision. He was the sole dissenting vote.

The council also discussed several utility rate increases.

McDavid said there would be a 3 percent increase in the electric rates, even though the city likely won't see any cost increases. He then proposed