3 nominated for open seat on Council

Three Jefferson City residents have been nominated to fill the 2nd Ward seat on the City Council, recently vacated by Shawn Schulte.

At the City Council meeting Monday, nominations were made for the seat, which has been vacant since former Councilman Shawn Schulte resigned from the council last month. Schulte is moving from his 2nd Ward home to a house in the 5th Ward.

Second Ward Councilman J. Rick Mihalevich nominated Allen Tatman, owner of Paddy Malone's. Third Ward Councilman Bob Scrivner nominated Carolyn McDowell, a former 4th Ward councilwoman and member of the city's charter commission. Fifth Ward Councilman Ralph Bray nominated Laura Ward, an administrative associate with the University of Missouri School of Medicine.

Members of the public will be able to meet with all three candidates at a public forum Monday, which will be held at City Hall from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. City Administrator Steve Crowell said he would anticipate an opportunity for interaction with the public, as well as some set questions and statements made by each candidate.

In other business, MoDOT Central District Engineer Dave Silvester presented the list of projects proposed for area under the proposed ¾-cent sales tax, which will be on the Aug. 5 ballot. The proposal would temporarily raise Missouri's sales tax to pay for statewide transportation improvements, including a number of projects in Cole County.

The list of projects is wide in its scope ranging from road and bridge construction, expansion of rail service at the Amtrak Train Station, improvements to the Jefferson City Memorial Airport, increased service hours of Jefferson City's public transportation service, continued service by Older Adults Transportation Service between Columbia and Jefferson City and other projects such as repaving sidewalks.

MoDOT is looking for public comments on the project list through July 3.

"We're looking for as much public input and feedback as we can get on these jobs," Silvester said.

Council members also briefly discussed an upcoming work session on transit issues, set for 5:30 p.m. June 30. Crowell said the discussion will be focused on the financial issues with the city's transit system and some potential suggestions for improvements from city staff.

Crowell said he does not anticipate any major discussion on a transit advisory group, which has been suggested and sought by the Citizens for JeffTran group.

Mayor Eric Struemph said while there may be no discussion on that proposal at the work session, there likely will be as discussions continue.

"The 30th won't be our last discussion on transit," Struemph said.

"It's the beginning."