COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) – A last-minute venue change is creating new challenges for law enforcement as Columbus prepares for former Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit.

The event will be held in the Columbus High School gymnasium on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Police revisit logistics

Columbus Police Chief Garland Ward said the Columbus Police Department and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office had already met at Mississippi University for Women to go over logistics for the visit.

Ward said they received word Tuesday night that the venue had changed.

Officials were then meeting Wednesday again to review plans for the new location.

A heavier-than-normal police presence was observed at Columbus High School Tuesday.

City prepares for traffic, security

“We looked at all aspects of what could go wrong or what could not go wrong. And I think it’s going to be a pretty smooth transition,” said Columbus Mayor Stephen Jones. ”We’ll be ready. You know, no matter what happens, whether it be traffic or anything else, the City of Columbus will be ready.”

The venue change comes after the W said it had not officially confirmed the event and determined that the operational requirements would disrupt normal campus operations.