CoMo You Know: Government

Chris Kelly is a representative for downtown Columbia, including MU, Stephens College and Columbia College. 

Rep. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, has been a state representative since 2008. When he was elected, he was the youngest member in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Caleb Rowden is Missouri's 44th District state representative, and represents both Boone and Randolph counties.

Kurt Schaefer is a member of the Missouri state senate. He has represented Missouri's 19th district since 2009. He is also a partner at the Kansas City law firm Lathrop & Gage.

The Columbia Fire Department is responsible for all fires within Columbia city limits.

The master plan is part of a concept called growth management planning. Rather than allowing the city to expand willy-nilly, the commission is putting together recommendations for the Planning Department to codify into a written document.

The use of eminent domain is akin to the use of easements, which primarily allow the city government to acquire small parcels of land that are necessary for infrastructure development.

What is now the Daniel Boone City Building was once known as the Daniel Boone Tavern, a hotel and informal community center.

The Boone County Fire Protection District has provided emergency services for the county since the mid-1960s and now encompasses about 500 square miles.

Tax-increment financing was authorized by the Columbia City Council in March 2008 as an incentive for development or improvement projects that eliminate blight and create jobs.

The publicly owned power plant is operated by the city to provide not-for-profit electric service by burning coal, gas and oil.

The Health Department located at the Sanford-Kimpton Building provides multiple servicesto Columbia and Boone County residents.

The Boone County Planning and Zoning Commission advises the county commission on matters of land use.