City faces $500K budget shortfall

The city will likely have to dip into its reserve fund to balance next year’s budget.

City councilmen held a special meeting for the second time in as many weeks Wednesday to discuss and revise the budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Mayor votes himself a $10K raise

Columbus Mayor Robert Smith has given himself a $10,000 pay raise.

During a budget meeting for the upcoming fiscal year, Smith broke a 3-3 city council tie and gave himself the raise.

Five named to Columbus Redevelopment Authority

The five people tasked with leading a major restoration project aimed at improving blighted areas of Columbus have been selected.

Supervisors refinance ’07 Paccar bond issue

Lowndes County could save about $500,000 over the remaining 13 years of its industrial bond by refinancing the bond at a lower interest rate, a financial advisor told the county’s board of supervisors Monday.

City Hall renovation plan resumes

Funding at the state level is going to make up for a grant the city lost last year for renovating the Columbus City Hall.

J5 extends management of public works through Sept.

J5 Broaddus’ temporary management of Columbus’ public works department will continue at least through September after it was originally set to end in May.

Code enforcers address blight

The Columbus code enforcement office has worked more than 400 cases this year.

Department director Tomarris Jones said that since January, city crews have demolished 11 houses. Five more demolitions are in progress and city workers have also cleaned and mowed a number of overgrown lots, he said.

CL&W to sue some delinquent customers

Columbus Light and Water will take customers who owe more than $500 in delinquent payments to Justice Court.

City continues pursuit of redevelopment plan

Mayor Robert Smith is in the process of appointing five members of what will be Columbus’ redevelopment authority and hopes to have the group ready for councilmen to review sometime in the next two months.

4-County warns of phone scam

4-County Electric Power Association officials are asking customers to call law enforcement if they have received phone calls asking for bill payments.

CL&W concerned about slow meter installation

Columbus Light and Water board members on Thursday sent a message to the company installing new water meters in the city: Pick up the pace.

CAFB takes positive approach to study results

Officials at Columbus Air Force Base say they are evaluating the services they provide to personnel after an Air Force Times study listed the base as one of the least-popular to be stationed in the Air Force.

Unemployment rates hover near last June’s levels

The latest series of unemployment data from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security brings good news and bad news.

Airbus VP says future is bright in Columbus

Since American Eurocopter put down roots in the Golden Triangle in 2003, more than 800 helicopters have departed the hangar at Golden Triangle Regional Airport.

After a re-branding to Airbus Group in January, the Airbus Helicopters plant in Columbus is gearing up to launch its second full helicopter assembly line on Aug. 28.

River Island Park hits funding snag

Efforts to convert land west of the Tombigbee River on The Island into a man-made beach and park will be delayed after the city’s request for grant funding was not approved.

Jamison: EPA award means more than recognition

A local group’s dedication to the cleanup and repurposing of the Kerr-McGee site has received national recognition for its efforts.

CVB pitches in $21K for sidewalk connector lights

Members of the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors voted to provide $21,136 for supplies that will be used to install ornamental lighting on the connecting sidewalk between the Riverwalk and the Columbus Soccer Complex.

Permits granted for New Hope sewer expansion

Lowndes County supervisors have approved utility permits for Columbus Light and Water on several county roads that will allow the utility company to install a pressure sewer main connecting the New Hope School District to the city’s sewer system.

Columbus sales tax collections up nearly $100K

Sales tax revenue in Columbus from May saw a gain of more than $91,000 over May 2013 thanks to out-of-town traffic generated by events held in the city, including the President’s Cup soccer tournament and Market Street Festival.

Grant could bring netbooks to Crawford Center

The Crawford Center could have netbook computers soon.

Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority is applying for $12,000-to-$15,000 in grant funding from Toyota that would fund 25 Samsung Chromebooks and a storage cart for the wireless devices.