Columbia Market House continues to operate at a loss; Borough officials acknowledge financial shortfall with no clear end in sight

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

The Columbia Market House is still running in the red, borough officials acknowledged at the May 5 Columbia Borough Council workshop held at the Columbia Fire Hall. Council members warned that the deficit could persist for years to come.

Heather Zink, council vice president, confirmed that finance reports show the market is not breaking even. When resident Frank Doutrich asked, "Are we in the hole?" Zink replied: "Yes." The amount of the shortfall was not disclosed at the meeting, since the financial reports weren't on hand.

Doutrich said that since the borough currently lacks a finance manager, "Somebody should be on top of this." He also questioned whether the borough's accounting firm, Brown's, was monitoring the market's finances. Zink said the firm was not focused on that particular issue.

Zink, who reviews the market's finances as part of council's finance committee, suggested the market will remain in the red for the foreseeable future. She added that the financial situation could persist for a long time unless the market increases the number of renters, or stand rents are raised.

Doutrich noted that standholders appear to be turning a profit, and questioned whether borough taxpayers should at least be breaking even on the investment.

Columbia Spy previously reported on the Market House's troubled finances HERE.

The Columbia Market House, built in 1869, operated as a market until 1996, when it closed amid concerns about costs and a dwindling number of vendors. It reopened in 2005 but closed again just before Christmas in December 2017, according to lancasteronline. The building at 15 S. Third St. closed in December 2017 to undergo a several million construction and renovation paid for with a combination of state and local funds.

The borough-owned facility reopened after renovations in May 2021 under CHI St. Joseph Children's Health management. Ten months after reopening, the market saw several vendors leave and was welcoming shoppers only one day a week. CHI eventually stepped away from its management role, and the borough took over operations.

Truist Bank to depart, leaving Columbia without a bank; Officials consider moving borough accounts to Fulton Bank

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At the May 5 Columbia Borough Council workshop, officials discussed Truist Bank’s upcoming departure from Columbia Borough scheduled for July 28, 2026, which will leave the borough without a bank. A council member noted that it's the third bank to leave town over the past 10 years.

Eric Kauffman, council president, said he was unsure of how to go about getting another bank in town and whose responsibility it is to do so. “I don’t know how you get another bank in Columbia,” Kauffman said. “I don’t know if that’s the borough’s responsibility, if it’s merchants’ responsibility, to try and get a bank in Columbia.”

According to Kauffman, the bank building can't be sold to another bank due to stipulations of sale.

Kauffman said that when the borough was searching for a loan a few months ago, one of the banks they dealt with was Fulton Bank. “We were very pleased with Fulton Bank,” Kauffman said. “Fulton Bank not only wanted to give us a favorable loan, but they also wanted our services.” He recommended moving the borough's accounts to Fulton, noting that the issue will most likely be on next meeting's agenda. Fulton has a branch located right off Route 30 at the Mountville exit, Kauffman said.

After Truist leaves Columbia, the only convenient options remaining for borough residents (besides online banking) will be the Wells Fargo ATM at the Columbia Plaza, and Northwest Bank on 18th Street, which is in West Hempfield Township. 

Truist Bank, located at 325 Locust Street, has technically operated under its current name in Columbia Borough since its formation in December 2019, following the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, according to public records.

Public health experts and retired leader offer insight into Columbia schools' high vaccination rates | Health | lancasteronline.com

ANNE GARBER | Health reporter | LNP

Students at Columbia Borough School District have some of the highest measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates in Lancaster County. For the 2024-25 school year, 100% of Columbia 12th and seventh graders had received both doses of the MMR vaccine. Of kindergartners at Park Elementary School, the district’s lone primary school, 94% of students were vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.

Vaccination rates as high as those among Columbia public school students are important because measles, which received elimination status in the United States in 2000 by the Pan American Health Organization, has seen a resurgence. Last year, there were 2,288 cases of measles nationwide, more than any other year this century, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. This year, the U.S. is on track to surpass that number with 1,814 cases reported as of April 30.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/health/public-health-experts-and-retired-leader-offer-insight-into-columbia-schools-high-vaccination-rates/article_f78cac82-083a-4827-90ba-2fda06ab2e34.html 

Columbia Borough Public Works Dept. Report for March 2026

○ 2026 Proposed Paving Projects

The 2026 Co-Stars pricing for 9.5mm is $80.50 per/ton compared to $78.95 per ton in 2025. As scheduling permits, crews will begin patch repairs in various locations in the Borough and begin preparations of scheduled streets to be paved, that have no utility conflicts.

 Walnut Street (Front to Third)

*S 2nd St (Locust to Cherry)

*S 3rd St (Locust to Cherry) 

*Locust St (600 block)

*Maple St (500 block)

*Poplar St (600 block) 

*Tann Ave (Lancaster Ave to Elbow Ave)   

 Union St (300 block) CDBG New Curb and Sidewalk 

*Indicates streets to be paved by Public Works staff

○ Water Main Replacement

The Columbia Water Company is currently working on the water main and service replacement in the 600 block of Locust Street. This work is being done ahead of the 2026 proposed paving projects.

○ Makle Park

At present, Makle Park is 99% complete. The restroom is set in place, and all concrete work has been completed. The new basketball court is complete with all the lighting upgrades. A final walkthrough with the contractors was held on April 10th. A punch list was generated with several items to be completed, such as turning on water for restrooms, ensuring plumbing is working properly, painting lines in the parking lot, having all lighting working, timers and sensors adjusted and regrade and seed areas where needed,

○ Street Sweeper

Street sweeping started on Monday, March 16th. During the first three weeks of sweeping, 37 tons of debris was collected from Borough Streets.

○ Borough Yard Waste Recycling Facility

Four of the 15 participating municipalities dropped off 55.89 tons of yard waste in March. Crews finished processing yard waste materials from last fall and are currently screening compost material.

○ Yard Waste Pick Up

Yard Waste pick-up began Monday, March 30th and will continue every Monday through November 13th. Crews picked up 10/8 tons of yard waste on the first collection day.

[Source: Jake Graham, Columbia Borough Public Works Department]

Agenda — Columbia Borough Council Meeting — May 5, 2026

The meeting packet is HERE.

Elwood "Tim" Deeg named Grand Marshal of Lancaster County Firefighters Parade

[Photo: Joe Lintner]

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Elwood "Tim" Deeg was named Grand Marshal of the upcoming Lancaster County Firefighters Parade at a "surprise" dedication Monday evening at the Columbia Borough Fire Hall. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, at 2 p.m. in Columbia. 

Further details will be provided in an upcoming article. 

Deeds Recorded — Columbia Borough — May 4, 2026

Arredondo Martin A., Arredondo Mary E. conveyed 645 Fairview Ave. to Gilot Rivera Elvin Yudiel, Rivera Elvin Yudiel Gilot, Ramos Jesstony Angelynn for $239,900.

Eberly Korey Breyer, Eberly Korey, Eberly Leah Rose, Eberly Leah conveyed 134 S. Second St. to Mercer Ryan, Carpenter Courtney for $270,000.

Gloria D. Millar conveyed 36 N. Sixth St. to Mugabo Jerome, Bukuru Floriane Mabako for $225,900.

John C. Shepard conveyed 1110 Central Ave. to Sarah R. Blevins for $175,000.

Ramos Jacklyn, Bonilla Luis A. conveyed property on Chestnut Street to Luis A. Bonilla for $1.

Debra L. Frankhouser conveyed 447 Union St. to Impact Real Estate LLC for $80,000.

M&M Realty Co. conveyed 245 N. Fourth St. to Whelpley Zachary, Pappas Victoria for $320,000.

Precision Home Builders LLC conveyed 905 Spruce St. to Bradley Whismany for $256,000.