About
Adam Beam covers the City of Columbia for The State newspaper. Here, he blogs about local government. Reach him at (803) 386-7038 or abeam@thestate.com
Tag Archives: Charles Austin
Charles Austin, private eye
Former Columbia City Manager Charles Austin has filed a business license application with Columbia to operate Blue Knight Private Detective/Security Agency, LLC.
Attempts to reach Austin were unsuccessful.
Austin retired in January after six years as Columbia’s city manager. Before that, he served as Columbia’s police chief for 11 years. In a 2008 article, when Austin was still [...]
For $250, you can be Charles Austin's friend
The Columbia Urban League is hosting a retirement tribute for former Columbia City Manager Charles Austin June 15 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
The Urban League is sending out letters to community leaders, asking them to join the “Sponsorship” category with a $1,000 donation. The money gets you a nod in the program and eight reserved [...]
134 people want to be Columbia City Manager
The application period for Columbia’s next City Manager ended April 30. Here are the stats:
134 applications (mostly from out of state)
42 are qualified
12 are qualifiable, meaning they can easily become qualified
134 applications is a lot, but not surprising in this economy. Charles Austin was making $162,000 a year when he retired — a salary that [...]
Posted in Columbia city government Also tagged Belinda Gergel, Bob Coble, City Manager search, E.W. Cromartie 1 Comment
Another Finlay forum
City Councilman Kirkman Finlay has made a career out of Columbia’s money problems. He has written letters, proposed an alternative budget in 2007 and held several forums to discuss the city’s finances — most notably one in 2007 where former City Manager Leona Plaugh, who was fired, asked questions of Charles Austin, who replaced her.
Now [...]
Posted in Columbia city government Also tagged Bud Addison, Columbia finances, Kirkman Finlay 2 Comments
Top 10 local government stories of 2009