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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">January 11, 2024</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Sydney Olsen
<br />Engagement and Public Communications Manager
<br />City Manager's Office
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7438
<br />Sydney.Olsen@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City of Columbia winter weather update Jan. 11, 3:30 p.m.</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - The City of Columbia is monitoring and preparing to respond to winter weather that is forecast to impact the mid-Missouri area beginning Friday, Jan. 12. <br /><br />As winter weather can be unpredictable, residents are encouraged to closely monitor the forecast and changing road conditions throughout the mid-Missouri area. Residents may want to run errands and shop for groceries early to avoid travel during inclement weather. <br /><br />Updates will be posted on the City's various social media accounts. Information and updates are also available at CoMo.gov.<br /><br /><strong><br />Cancellations</strong><br />MLK Day of Service at Cosmo Park, Jan 13, 10 a.m.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Public Works</strong><br /><em>Contact: John Ogan, John.Ogan@CoMo.gov</em><br />City of Columbia Public Works staff are currently monitoring conditions ahead of the arrival of winter weather, with a snowplo
w crew preparing to report for overnight duty. Crews will attempt to pre-treat roads as the rain tapers off, prior to the onset of snow mid-morning Friday. Once snow begins to accumulate, snowplow crews will focus on plowing first, second and third priority roads. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Go COMO Transit</strong><br /><em>Contact: John Ogan, John.Ogan@CoMo.gov</em><br />Go COMO, the City of Columbia's bus service, advises riders to be prepared by staying informed of potential disruptions to bus and Paratransit service. Riders are encouraged to create an account at Alerts.CoMo.gov to receive notifications regarding high-priority changes to service. Those alerts can be set up to arrive by text, email or voice call. Additionally, riders can see announcements through the DoubleMap App or via Go COMO social media such as Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Utilities</strong><br /><em>Contact: Matt Nestor, Matthew.Nestor@CoMo.gov</em><br />City
of Columbia Utilities will have additional crews on standby for the potential of downed power lines. The strong winds and weight of snow or ice on power lines and tree limbs could cause sporadic power outages. <br /><br />Utilities also recognizes the potential for water main breaks because of low temperatures that are forecast. In the case of a water main break occurring, crews are on standby and will work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Customers who come under a precautionary boil advisory will receive a hang tag.<br /><br />At this time, the Solid Waste Utility expects to run trash collection routes Friday as scheduled.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Parks and Recreation</strong><br /><em>Contact: Tammy Miller, Tammy.Miller@CoMo.gov</em><br />Columbia Parks and Recreation staff are temporarily closing all park and trail restrooms Jan. 11, due to the forecast of extremely cold temperatures over the next several days. Signage notifying park and trail users abou
t the closure will be posted at each restroom facility.<br /><br />Parks and Recreation has a number of heated restrooms that normally remain open through the winter, however, heaters are not able to adequately warm these restrooms in the extreme cold. Prolonged freezing temperatures can cause the restroom plumbing, valves and fixtures to freeze and shatter, which could lead to costly repairs.<br /><br />To prevent these breakages, park staff is incorporating precautionary measures which means the facilities must remain closed. Restrooms are expected to reopen once temperatures return to seasonal averages.<br /><br />For more information, call Parks and Recreation at 573.874.7460. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Columbia Police Department</strong><br /><em>Contact: Christian Tabak & Jenny Hopper, PolicePIO@CoMo.gov</em><br />The Department urges drivers to use caution during the projected winter weather. Slow down, increase distance between cars, accelerate and decel
erate slowly, and wear a seatbelt. Be sure to clear your vehicle’s windows of snow and ice before driving.<br /><br />Residents should also not leave vehicles running while unattended. While you may be trying to warm your vehicle or defrost your windshield, a vehicle left running unattended for even a few minutes is at risk for theft.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Office of Sustainability</strong><br /><em>Contact: Michael J. Heimos, Michael.Heimos@CoMo.gov</em><br />The City of Columbia Office of Sustainability would like to remind residents of several tips when using salt. For best results, apply salt to cleared surfaces. The salt crystals should not overlap but be spread out a few inches apart. Additionally, more salt does not mean more melting. One pound of salt is approximately a heaping 12-ounce coffee mug.<br /><br />Following a winter weather event, residents are encouraged to sweep up any extra salt that is visible on dry pavement to avoid that salt being washed int
o local streams through a storm drain or ditch system.</div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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