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City Council to Vote on Largest Street Paving Budget in Columbia History

Issue #376

11 Mar

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☀️ Columbia’s Weather - Sunny w/ high of 77 & low of 50

📰 City Council to Vote on Largest Street Paving Budget in Columbia History

📰 Nearly 1,000 Workers Approve Landmark Agreement with Ultium Cells

🦃 TWRA Introduction To Turkey Hunting Class

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Tuesday, March 11th

Wednesday, March 12th

Thursday, March 13th

Friday, March 14th

Saturday, March 15th

Sunday, March 16th

City Council to Vote on Largest Street Paving Budget in Columbia History

Columbia is set to finalize a $4 million budget for street paving, marking the largest investment in road improvements in the city’s history. The project, covering nearly 20 miles of roadways, is expected to move forward with a City Council vote on Thursday.

City officials used advanced technology to assess road conditions, identifying the most deteriorated streets for resurfacing. The assessment, conducted in 2020, used a machine-learning system to rate pavement conditions, guiding the selection process. Once the budget is approved, the city will put the contract out for bids, with work anticipated to begin in late spring or early summer.

During a recent study session, some council members raised concerns about streets that didn’t make the initial list, particularly Galloway Street, which has significant wear. However, officials noted that its exclusion was due to an overlapping infrastructure project by Columbia Power and Water Systems.

The paving approach will vary depending on the condition and layout of each road. Many streets will require milling due to their design, while a few will receive an overlay. If funds remain after the primary list is completed, the city has a set of alternate streets that could be added to the project.

Mayor Chaz Molder highlighted the role of technology in ensuring a fair and transparent selection process. He also emphasized the significance of the $4 million budget, which surpasses previous paving efforts and represents a major commitment to infrastructure improvements.

Nearly 1,000 Workers Approve Landmark Agreement with Ultium Cells

Nearly 1,000 members of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1853 have voted to approve their first local contract with Ultium Cells, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution. This milestone marks a significant step in the unionization movement within the rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) battery industry.

The agreement builds upon the national contract won during the 2023 Stand Up Strike, ensuring that Ultium workers receive wages, health benefits, and job security comparable to employees in traditional auto manufacturing. Workers expressed relief over gaining protections that safeguard their financial stability and access to healthcare, a major concern in the industry.

This contract sets a new standard for EV battery plant workers, reinforcing the push for improved working conditions as automakers transition toward electric vehicle production. UAW representatives are now urging other manufacturers, such as Volkswagen, to follow Ultium’s lead, arguing that EV battery production carries similar risks as combustion engine work and deserves the same level of compensation and benefits.

The ratification comes as unionization efforts continue gaining momentum in the South, with over 5,000 Tennessee autoworkers joining the UAW in the past year. Leaders see Ultium’s contract as a model for future negotiations, emphasizing that workers across emerging EV plants deserve fair pay, healthcare, and a collective voice in their workplaces.

TWRA Introduction To Turkey Hunting Class

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is offering an Introduction to Turkey Hunting Class at the John Sevier Hunter Education Center in Knoxville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, 2025. 

The course will equip attendees with basic knowledge and skills to help them harvest a bearded turkey this spring. Topics to be covered include turkey history, identification, basic biology, scouting, locating gobblers, gear, strategies, calling, and more.  Attendees will also get the opportunity to learn and practice calling with experienced turkey hunters. 

Attendees are also invited to bring one shotgun for patterning onsite following the classroom session. Target load ammunition will be provided, or participants may bring their own.

The course is free for hunters possessing a current Tennessee Small Game Hunting and Fishing Combination License and an additional Big Game Gun Hunting license.  Lifetime or Sportsman licenses are also valid for the event. Attendees without an active license will need to purchase a daily range permit (Type 222) for March 22, 2025. The range permit may also be purchased onsite on the day of the event, but attendees should plan to arrive early to complete the transaction before the class begins. Licenses and range permits are also available for purchase online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com

Event Address: 

John Sevier Hunter Education Center 
2327 Rifle Range Road
Knoxville, TN 37918

Spring turkey season opens April 5-6 for the Young Sportsman (ages 6-16) hunt and for all ages April 12 -May 25, 2025. The bag limit is two bearded turkeys per season, only one may be a jake; no more than one bearded bird per day. Adult gobbler must have at least one of the following: a beard longer than six inches, tail feathers are all the same length, wing feathers have white barring all the way to the tip, and a spur that is at least 1/2 inch long. All hens, including bearded hens, are illegal to harvest.

For more information about the event, contact TWRA Public Information Officer Matt Cameron at 423-522-2473 or [email protected]

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, March 11th

Justin Harden, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Wednesday, March 12th

Kayleigh Matthews, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

Thursday, March 13th

Oliver Pigott, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Spring Hill, 6-9 PM
Ryan & Ryan, Cherry Theater - Columbia State, 7 PM
Kirwan, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM

Friday, March 14th

Open Mic, Grinders Switch, 6-8 PM
Open Mic, Twisted Copper Brewing Company, 7 PM
Yonder Grove, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Garrett Boys, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Wentzel Brothers Band, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, March 15th

Miles Damaso Group, Puckett’s, 10 AM-2 PM
Bald Kernal, Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1-5 PM
Johnny Jameson & The Empty Pints, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Hippies & Cowboys, The Mulehouse, 7 PM
The Deltaz, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Zone Status, The Boondox, 8-11 PM
Static Pop, Gary's Place, 8 PM-12 AM

Sunday, March 16th

CJ Conklin, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 4-7 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

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