Within the `multicol` environment I want to be able to fix a `figure` to be displayed at either the top or bottom of a column (as in a scientific journal). 

The `figure` environment cannot be used in `multicol` and I've tried using `wrapfig` and even creating a `minipage` to do this, but the `figure` always seems to be placed where it is inserted in the text and therefore must be moved every time an edit is made. 

Is there a way to force a `figure` to be positioned at the top or bottom of a column in `multicol`?