COMO Vanguard

Ward 6 Councilwoman Betsy Peters joins David Lile and Nick Knoth to discuss the denial of a proposed 194-unit, 720-bedroom student housing development near Rock Quarry Road and Grindstone Parkway, the city’s ongoing housing challenges, and concerns about traffic and infrastructure. They also discuss calls for an urban camping ordinance, the proposed municipal animal shelter, and the work underway...

Nick Knoth and David Lile sit down with Rebecca Roesslet, Director of the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services Department, for a wide-ranging conversation about the department and the many ways public health touches daily life. Rebecca discusses her career in public service, the unique city-county structure of the department, food safety and inspections, infectious disease respon...

Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll joins Nick Knoth and David Lile to discuss the latest Columbia City Council meeting, including several FY27 budget amendments, including funding for utility assistance and social services, and the debate over security protections for council members. The conversation also covers downtown special events, street closures, parking permits, and efforts to improve cr...

What does it actually take to keep Columbia moving? In this episode of the COMO Vanguard Podcast, Nick Knoth and David Lile sit down with Shane Creech, Director of Public Works for the City of Columbia, for the inaugural episode of a new series focused on the people behind city government. Creech discusses his nearly 18 years with the City, his path from civil engineering into public-sector manage...

Carrie Gartner, Executive Director of The Loop , joins David Lile and Nick Knoth to break down the latest City Council meeting, including debates around downtown safety, homelessness, public funding and other issues. Then, we turn our attention to The Loop — what it is, how it fits into Columbia’s economic and community development landscape, and what Carrie sees on the horizon. We talk about The...

Hosts David Lile and Nick Knoth are joined by Ward 6 Councilwoman Dr. Betsy Peters to break down the latest City Council meeting. They discuss the wave of fee and permit increases, ongoing development challenges, and why Council may need to rein in its marathon meetings and decision-making process. The conversation also dives into Proposition 1, the narrowly approved public safety sales tax, what...

David Lile and Nick Knoth are joined by Ward 3 Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Jacque Sample to unpack the most consequential decisions from Columbia's latest City Council meeting. The conversation covers the Council's approval of the City's 2026 Renewable Energy Plan and where Columbia stands on its renewable energy goals, the unanimous adoption of the FY27 Capital Improvement Program,...

This special edition of the COMO Vanguard podcast is dedicated entirely to Columbia’s proposed Public Safety Tax, which voters will decide this August. Hosts David Lile and Nick Knoth sit down with Police Chief Jill Schlude and Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer, followed by Matt Nichols, President of the Columbia Police Officers Association, and Zach Privette, President of Columbia Professional Firefight...

Ward 2 Councilwoman Vera Elwood joins David Lile and Nick Knoth for a conversation on some of Columbia's latest issues, including short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), police surveillance technology, and the challenges of growth and governance in Columbia. Visit www.comovanguard.com to submit questions and support the show.

Mayor Barbara Buffaloe returns to the show for a detailed discussion on local governance, city council dynamics, community engagement, and the future of Columbia's infrastructure and transportation. Hosted by David Lile and Nick Knoth, the conversation explores the challenges and opportunities in city management, public trust, and civic participation. Visit www.comovanguard.com to submit quest...

City Manager De’Carlon Seewood joins the show to discuss his State of the City address, including his vision and priorities for the City of Columbia moving forward. Together we tackle everything from utilities and infrastructure to parks, housing, and community engagement. Visit www.comovanguard.com to learn more and support the show.

In this episode, we break down the biggest takeaways from Columbia’s 2026 City Council retreat — including proposed changes to public comment rules, discussions about the growing demands of council service, meeting and governance reform, and the city’s long-term priorities. We also discuss a notable conversation around whether Columbia may eventually need to transition council positions from part-...

Councilman Nick Foster returns to discuss the public safety tax delay, Council best practices and lack thereof, and his forthcoming resignation. Visit www.comovanguard.com to submit questions and support the show

Nickie Davis, Executive Director of The District , joins us to discuss her organization’s role in managing and advocating for downtown Columbia, the forthcoming public safety tax, how public input processes are playing out, and the unforgiving nature of local road construction. Learn more, ask questions, and support the show at www.comovanguard.com

Ward 3 Councilwoman Dr. Jacque Sample joins David Lile and Nick Knoth to unpack the City’s evolving stance on data centers, a new downtown safety partnership, and what it all means moving forward. Submit questions and support the show at  ⁠www.comovanguard.com

Hosts David Lile and Nick Knoth sit down with Ward 4 Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Nick Foster for a breakdown of Columbia’s latest City Council meeting - digging into affordable housing, the future of the airport, and the debate over council pay. Visit comovanguard.com to submit questions and support the show.

Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman joins hosts David Lile and Nick Knoth to break down the latest City Council meeting, including affordable housing progress, a clean FY25 audit, and a lengthy debate on animal control revisions. We also touch on rising liabilities under new accounting rules, February tax revenues, and extended bar hours for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Visit comovanguard.com to submit que...

In this episode, hosts David Lile and Nick Knoth are joined by Sydney Olsen, the City of Columbia’s Engagement and Communications Manager, to discuss City Council’s latest deliberations on a proposed public safety tax, next steps for a major transmission line project, and the potential use of geofencing and other strategies to strengthen community engagement - all key issues shaping Columbia’s fut...

In this episode of the COMO Vanguard podcast, hosts Nick Knoth and David Lile are joined by Police Chief Jill Schlude to break down the recent City Council meeting, with a focus on the pedestrian safety ordinance and its community impact. They also discuss the historic preservation plan, homelessness and panhandling, infrastructure needs, and the broader challenge of balancing safety, resources, a...

David Lile and Nick Knoth discuss the most recent Columbia City Council meeting, from policy resolutions to contentious development proposals - and even chariot races downtown.

Hosts David Lile and Nick Knoth are joined by Mayor Barbara Buffaloe . Together they discuss the City of Columbia’s DIVERT Program, short term rental regulations, City revenue trends, and more. Support the podcast by becoming a member at: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/comovanguard⁠ Check out the written publication on Substack: https://comovanguard.substack.com/about Follow us on Facebook , Instagram...

Hosts David Lile and Nick Knoth introduce COMO Vanguard’s companion podcast, outlining the purpose of the show and the rationale behind its launch, while setting expectations for the conversations and analysis to come.