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Grindstone Creek Trail
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City Council Approves IBM Deal
City Council approved the IBM deal that welcomes the company to Columbia. Part of the negotiations to bring IBM to Columbia was the future promise of the Grindstone Creek Trail, which was an original master plan trail, that would connect the new IBM offices located at the Industrail Park to the inner city trails. -
Parks Sales Tax Renewed
An ordiance to place the renewal of the park sales tax for another 5 years on the November 2010 ballot was approved by city council. The proposed extension of the tax would help fund numerous projects, including the Grindstone Creek Trail. -
Ballot Question Passed
The Parks Tax extension that would fund the Grindstone Creek Trail put onto the mid term ballot was passed November 2, 2010. It won with every precinct except one, and the percinct that did not vote for it lost by 8 out of 148 votes. All wards passed the ballot issue yeilding 64% of the city in favor. -
Engineering Contract
City council approved an engineering contract with Allstate Consultants for the planning and design of the Grindstone Creek Trail. -
Phase One
Allstate Consultants submitted the Phase 1 Alignment Study to City Council for review. Engineer John Holmes presented three alternative routes and reccommended the orange route as the most efficent option. -
Public Interest Meeting
During the Public Interest Meeting, where neighborhoods were invited to hear the proposed routes, over 60 citizens attended to voice their opinions. Many were opponents of the trail because of the imposing nature of the trial on their backyards. -
City Council Meeting
Due to the controversial nature of the Grindstone Crteek Trail project, and the lack of funds left for the remaining GetAbout Columbia projects Mayor Bob McDavid purposed to nix the Grindstone Trail and trasnfer the funds to GetAbout. McDavid asked for four commissions (Bike and Pedestrian, Energy and Enviorment, Disabilities and Parks and Recreation) to vote on his proposal. -
Commision Feedback
The four commissions met to vote on the proposal. The Disabilities Commission agreed with the mayor. Both the Energy and Environment and the Bike and Pedestrian Commissions unanimously voted to keep the Grindstone Creek Trail project in motion. After a long debate the Parks and Rec. also voted to keep the trail in a 4-3 decision. City Council will vote to make the final decision early next year.
