KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 27th & 28th, 2026.  Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude and Columbia Fire Chief Brain Schaffer join me this week to discuss the upcoming vote on a 1 cent sales tax increase for citizens of Columbia, that will appear on the August 4th ballot.  The approximately 38 million dollars that would be collected each year would be put into a special separate fund to be used only for additional personnel, equipment and infrastructure for these to public safety entities, allowing them to reach specific standards of service not met because of underfunding for a number of years. Both Chiefs have been presenting educational presentations to many local groups over th past few weeks.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 27th &amp; 28th, 2026.&nbsp; Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude and Columbia Fire Chief Brain Schaffer join me this week to discuss the upcoming vote on a 1 cent sales tax increase for citizens of Columbia, that will appear on the August 4th ballot.&nbsp; The approximately 38 million dollars that would be collected each year would be put into a special separate fund to be used only for additional personnel, equipment and infrastructure for these to public safety entities, allowing them to reach specific standards of service not met because of underfunding for a number of years. Both Chiefs have been presenting educational presentations to many local groups over th past few weeks.

Join Mark Mills each Sunday as we visit with business leaders across Missouri. We'll take a deep dive into the news and issues that are impacting Mid-Missouri's business community.  Listen live on KFRU every Sunday morning at 8 am.

Join Mark Mills each Sunday as we visit with business leaders across Missouri. We'll take a deep dive into the news and issues that are impacting Mid-Missouri's business community.  Listen live on KFRU every Sunday morning at 8 am.

KFRU Business Spotlight

Mark Mills speaks with local business leaders and keeps you connected to Columbia's vibrant business community.

Mark Mills speaks with local business leaders and keeps you connected to Columbia's vibrant business community.

The KFRU Business Spotlight

Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude. Columbia Fire Chief Brain Schaeffer. Columbia Public Safety Sales Tax Conversation.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 13th & 14th, 2026. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to talk about the Public Safety One Cent tax that will be on the ballot for the August Election.  We go back to the beginnings of the conversations about the need for additional funds to support both the Columbia Fire Department and the Columbia Police Department that started unofficially nearly 10 years ago.  The specific official conversations and the vote by the city council to place it on the August ballot came in the last year of so.  The council voted to put the question on the August ballot in May.  We talk about the needs of both the fire and police departments.  We also talked about push back from some groups in Columbia that seem to have made the tax vote a referendum on the abilities and shortcomings of the Mayor, City Council and City Manager, instead of a solution to a problem identified by community conversations recently.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 13th &amp; 14th, 2026. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to talk about the Public Safety One Cent tax that will be on the ballot for the August Election.&nbsp; We go back to the beginnings of the conversations about the need for additional funds to support both the Columbia Fire Department and the Columbia Police Department that started unofficially nearly 10 years ago.&nbsp; The specific official conversations and the vote by the city council to place it on the August ballot came in the last year of so.&nbsp; The council voted to put the question on the August ballot in May.&nbsp; We talk about the needs of both the fire and police departments.&nbsp; We also talked about push back from some groups in Columbia that seem to have made the tax vote a referendum on the abilities and shortcomings of the Mayor, City Council and City Manager, instead of a solution to a problem identified by community conversations recently.

Barbara Buffaloe, Mayor.  Columbia City Council.  Public Safety Tax.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 6th & 7th, 2026.  Jacque Sample, 3rd Ward City Councilwoman, joins us to talk about her first year (and a bit) on the Columbia City Council, telling us about how the council works together as a team.  We asked about her favorite parts of the job and the negative points as well.  We talked extensively about the one-cent sales tax up for a vote of the citizens of Columbia on the August ballot.  We also talked about the 3rd Ward happenings, including a new City Park on Mexico Gravel Road.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 6th &amp; 7th, 2026.&nbsp; Jacque Sample, 3rd Ward City Councilwoman, joins us to talk about her first year (and a bit) on the Columbia City Council, telling us about how the council works together as a team.&nbsp; We asked about her favorite parts of the job and the negative points as well.&nbsp; We talked extensively about the one-cent sales tax up for a vote of the citizens of Columbia on the August ballot.&nbsp; We also talked about the 3rd Ward happenings, including a new City Park on Mexico Gravel Road.

Jacque Sample, Councilwoman, 3rd Ward.  Columbia City Council.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- May 23rd & 24th, 2026. Eric Kopinski, the director of the Improve I-70 Project, joins us to talk about the ongoing activity as the widening of I-70 to three lanes both ways continues.  Eric talks about some parts of the overall project that have been completed, some just in the last days.  We also talk about the big parts of the project which will be happening in the next few weeks.  Kopinski always acknowledges the impacts that the program has on the Columbia area and across the state, but is always positive about the safety and driving ease the updates will bring to local residents When it all done. We also talk big picture about driving on I-70 this summer both to the west and to the east from COMO.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- May 23rd &amp; 24th, 2026. Eric Kopinski, the director of the Improve I-70 Project, joins us to talk about the ongoing activity as the widening of I-70 to three lanes both ways continues.&nbsp; Eric talks about some parts of the overall project that have been completed, some just in the last days.&nbsp; We also talk about the big parts of the project which will be happening in the next few weeks.&nbsp; Kopinski always acknowledges the impacts that the program has on the Columbia area and across the state, but is always positive about the safety and driving ease the updates will bring to local residents When it all done. We also talk big picture about driving on I-70 this summer both to the west and to the east from COMO.

Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude. Columbia Fire Chief Brain Schaeffer. Columbia Public Safety Sales Tax Conversation.

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