Columbia, Mo.-Area Businesses Circulate Deposit-Repeal Petition.

Byline: Justin Willett

May 30--One week after the Columbia City Council exempted a Lake of the Woods gas station from complying with the city's beverage container ordinance, long-time opponent Urban Wussler will begin circulating a petition to put the ordinance before voters again.

Wussler said he needs about 1,200 signatures to get the issue on the ballot, and he thinks the time is right to repeal the ordinance.

Several developments in the past five months have brought the ordinance under heightened scrutiny:

--In February a Columbia Chamber of Commerce survey showed that 71 percent of 262 members who responded favored repeal of the ordinance. Chamber president Don Laird said chamber surveys traditionally reflect the …