Columbia business takes a political stance

SARAH NICELL | LNP Staff Writer

Ellie Winslow, Mik Trapp and Mel Buckley usually spend their Friday afternoons tattooing walk-in clients at their Columbia shop.

But things looked a little different at Clover Tattoo on Jan. 30. For one: They had free desserts and no walk-ins. 

The trio of tattoo artists huddled on the bench of Clover's sun-streaked window. They made collages and hand-scrawled encouraging notes to stick on the glass, advertising free coffee, water and snacks. In a box beside them sat free cupcakes, which had gone mostly to delivery workers.

They chatted about an upcoming Beatles biopic and the dog groomer across the street as Buckley scrounged almost enough letters to finish a sentence: "ICE is a terrorist organization."

"Pass me a big capital T," Buckley said. Winslow quickly found one in the pile of entertainment magazines.

Activists nationwide called for a strike against work, school and shopping Friday to protest recent activity by federal agents, including the recorded shooting and killing of two civilians in Minneapolis. The strike coincided with protests and vigils across the country, including in Lancaster city, on Friday night.

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https://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/lancaster-county-city-businesses-take-action-in-support-of-national-strike-against-ice/article_ce6f8275-c7ab-4c06-a40a-d9ac6563baee.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

ICE in Columbia? Resident questions the borough's cooperation policy

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At the Columbia Borough Council meeting on January 27, 2026, resident Lucian Selman asked about the borough's stance on enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following recent events in Minneapolis.

Selman (at podium): "Does Columbia Borough Council currently have any agreements in place to collaborate with ICE immigration enforcement?"

"Does Columbia Borough Council currently have any agreements in place to collaborate with ICE immigration enforcement?" Selman asked. Eric Kauffman, council president, said no formal agreements exist beyond a resolution passed in 2024. "We passed a resolution. We do follow federal law," Kauffman said. Heather Zink, council vice president, said, "No, we do not have anything in place."

Discussion of Columbia Borough Council's stance on cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (Submitted video)

Selman asked if council planned to reconsider its position on ICE cooperation due to the recent "murders" of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Mayor Leo Lutz replied that it hasn't been proven that any murders were committed, but he didn't address the question. 

Byers (left): "As far as the resolution from two years ago, I'd be willing to read over it and consider repealing it."

Councilman Ethan Byers suggested revisiting the borough's resolution. "As far as the resolution from two years ago, I'd be willing to read over it and consider repealing it," Byers said. "When I read over that resolution previously, it seemed like it was taking quite a strong stance, especially in response to Lancaster City becoming a sanctuary city." He suggested the borough could consider adopting policies similar to Lancaster City's.

Columbia Borough's 2024 resolution "declaring local law enforcement will fully cooperate and coordinate with any necessary external law enforcement agencies when encountering undocumented individuals."

The resolution, passed 6-0 by borough council at its March 12, 2024 meeting, expresses support for ICE and suggests that more immigrants will put a higher strain on social services. Then-Council President Heather Zink defended the declaration as a way to signal to citizens "where we stand." Zink and then-Borough Manager Mark E. Stivers signed the resolution. 

Despite the resolution's strict language, officials have noted that Columbia police lack authority and have no intent to engage in proactive immigration enforcement activities. However,  the resolution does state: "...local law enforcement will fully cooperate and coordinate with any necessary external law enforcement agencies when encountering undocumented individuals."

Law enforcement agencies nationwide and in Pennsylvania have partnered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the 287(g) program, according to wgal.com.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Susquehanna Regional Police, Northwest Regional Police, Manheim Borough Police and Quarryville Police departments have signed agreements to participate in ICE’s task force program, according to LNP/LancasterOnline. 

In 2026 alone, at least six people were killed by ICE or in ICE custody. The most recent victims include citizens Renee Good, who was killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis; Alex Pretti, who was killed in Minneapolis by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. (CBP and ICE both operate under the authorization of the Department of Homeland Security.) The killings prompted the state to deploy the National Guard to protect citizens. Keith Porter was killed in Los Angeles, California by an off-duty ICE agent. ICE has also been accused of racial profiling and violating citizens' constitutional rights.

Background on Columbia's Immigration Stance
Some of the following information draws on a 2024 article by Tim  Stuhldreher in One United Lancaster:

In 2024, Columbia was recognized as the first municipality in the area to adopt a "non-sanctuary" resolution, which pledges cooperation with ICE. The measure was touted by council as a rebuke to Lancaster City's "Welcoming City" ordinance enacted earlier that year.

Lancaster City Council President Amanda Bakay previously expressed disappointment with Columbia's resolution, calling it based on misinformation about Lancaster's ordinance. Lancaster's policy bars city officials and police from inquiring about immigration status except when required by law or court order.

Columbia Borough's resolution reads as follows:

"WHEREAS, Illegal immigration has become a significant issue along the borders of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Cities that have declared themselves a sanctuary for undocumented individuals have experienced great financial strain on social services; and

WHEREAS, Sanctuary cities have experienced an increase in migrant crimes; and

WHEREAS, Lancaster City recently enacted Ordinance 01-2024 to codify a policy adopted in 2019 that will prohibit city officials from inquiring about a person's immigration status and from sharing information regarding that status with federal immigration authorities, effectively declaring itself a "Welcoming" or sanctuary city; and

WHEREAS, The federal government has the authority and responsibility to enforce immigration laws

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Borough Council of the Borough of Columbia does hereby declare local law enforcement will fully cooperate and coordinate with any necessary external law enforcement agencies when encountering undocumented individuals.

ADOPTED AND RESOLVED, by the Borough of Columbia in lawful session duly assembled on the XX day of March 2024."

Mayor Lutz swears in two new Columbia police officers

Members of the Columbia Borough Police Department, in a show of support, stood with new officers Kohler and Schaffner (center) at Tuesday's council meeting. 

Mayor Leo Lutz swore in new officer Blaine Matthew Schaffner. Officer Schaffner graduated from Warwick High School and recently from the Reading Police Academy. 

Lutz also swore in new officer Toby Jay Kohler. 

Officer Kohler graduated from Northeastern High School and recently from the Reading Police Academy.

Columbia school board approves tech center budget, school renovations, course offerings

MORGAN HUBER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE

When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Jan. 22.

What happened: The board unanimously approved the 2026-27 budget for the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center. The center requested Columbia Borough School District pay $466,362, or 1.7%, of the budget. This is a $19,105 increase over the current year.

Background: All 16 districts served by the trade school are required to vote on their share of the budget. The proposed budget for the year totals nearly $27.2 million.

What’s next: The school district is expected to pay the first 15% of its share, or $69,954, by July 1, followed by 25% by Sept. 1, and then another 15% every other month through May.

Columbia school projects: The school board approved $1.96 million in renovation projects through the 2030-31 year. These initiatives, all of which are funded through the district’s capital improvement fund, will start during the 2026-27 year with the interior painting of Hill Campus and Park Elementary.

More: Other projects call for resurfacing the track, replacing the underground storage tank at Taylor Middle School, replacing bathroom doors and exterior doors at Park Elementary, plus fixing power meters throughout the district and replacing generators at Park and Taylor Middle School.

MORE: HERE

Columbia Borough to tighten snow removal enforcement after recent "chaos"

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At the January 27 Columbia Borough Council meeting, residents voiced frustration over what one speaker characterized as "chaos" when independent contractors plowed snow on public streets after Sunday's snowfall. 

“It is illegal to push snow on a borough street without a contract with Columbia Borough," Mayor Leo Lutz responded. "Residents cannot push that snow, or someone with a pickup truck can't go down the street and plow the street. That's illegal.” Residents may pile snow in front of the borough highway department on Front Street, according to Lutz.

Piling snow at intersections can reduce visibility and cause flooding when the snow thaws, Lutz said.  He cited operators of pickup trucks with plows, ATVs with plows and bobcats as examples of recent violators of borough ordinance. Councilman Kelly Murphy said the ordinance states that the fine for a violation "shall not exceed $600." Lutz said enforcement will be stricter going forward.

The borough is currently working to improve communication with residents during snow emergencies, according to Lutz. Officials plan to post street-by-street plowing schedules in advance.

COLUMBIA BOROUGH AND COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT LOBBY - NEW HOURS | Columbia Borough Police Department

https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancaster/columbia-boro-pd/10552/post/columbia-borough-and-columbia-police-department-lobby-new-hours 

SNOW EMERGENCY IN COLUMBIA BOROUGH TO END WEDNESDAY AT 6:00AM | Columbia Borough Police Department

https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancaster/columbia-boro-pd/10552/post/snow-emergency-columbia-borough-end-wednesday-600am