93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
The Columbia City Council agreed Monday night to a couple moves to increase security.
The council approved a $300,000 plan to replace about 100 streetlights downtown. The new lights could be turned up to a brighter power at bar closing time, a move interim police chief Geoff Jones says will help his officers identify suspects, and help crowds identify his officers.
“Every study that I’ve researched shows that more lighting reduces crime,” Jones said.
The city has already been testing a few of the new streetlights on Broadway between Hitt Street and Waugh Street.
Bob Hohenstein with the Downtown Community Improvement District (CID) says his group has pledged $30,000 toward the project.
“There is a reason that bars at their closing time turn on all the lights inside their establishment,” Hohenstein said.
Once the council approves a plan between the city and the CID, officials say the new streetlights could be in place by this summer.
The council also agreed to spend about $250,000 for more security cameras in all city-owned parking garages during Monday night’s meeting.
