Tagged: karl skala

Karl Skala and Ian Thomas were sworn into office at a special city council meeting Monday evening in Columbia.

Fourth Ward Council member Ian Thomas said he wants to bring a more research based and analytical approach to policy making to the council. Thomas said he’s looking forward to working on finding a solution to the Providence Road congestion problem.

Third Ward Council member Karl Skala said he has many plans for the future.

Skala reclaimed the position from incumbent Gary Kespohl with 54% of the votes. This redeems his narrow defeat to Kespohl in 2010, when Skala lost the seat by 54 votes. Kespohl knew that this time it would be close and estimated that he knocked on nearly 5700 doors.

In his concession speech, Kespohl was brief. “I’m afraid for Columbia now because of some things that Karl is going to try to do. It may drive development completely out of Columbia. I hope it doesn’t, but it may.”

Karl Skala and Gary Kespohl are very familiar with each other.

Both are squaring off for the Third Ward Council seat of Columbia.

However, this will be the third time in the last three elections they have gone against each other.

The Boone County Smart Growth Coalition is planning a Health Impact Assessment to evaluate the effects of urban growth on public health.