Columbia officials propose new City Utilities communications supervisor, in effort to increase communications with residents and rate payers

Columbia city manager is asking the council to approve the hiring of a new communications supervisor for City Utilities. The City Utilities department provides electric, water, sewer and other services to more than 50,000 residential and business customers.

Columbia’s city council will first-read the proposal at tonight’s  meeting. City manager De’Carlon Seewood is recommending council approval, saying City Utilities wants to increase communication with residents and ratepayers regarding the services they receive. He also says they want to be more proactive in communicating both planned service interruptions and emergency service interruptions.

Mr. Seewood’s two-page report to the council says the new job would pay between $57,000 and $84,000 annually, with benefits raising the estimated cost to about $105,000. City Utilities say this position will also facilitate the hiring of a new communications team, with one housed in each of Columbia’s utility departments: electric, water, sewer and storm water and solid waste.

The other hires would be made in the 2025 budget, according to the council packet. That budget won’t be voted on until September.