COLUMBIA SPY

Columbia officials met twice this week — on Tuesday and Wednesday — but failed to call a vote on a proposal for the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority to take over the borough's wastewater treatment system. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-postpones-vote-on-lasa-wastewater-offer/article_2c36403e-e761-11e3-9956-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY  At last night's borough council meeting at Columbia No. 1 Fire Company, the issue of opting for Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA) to handle borough sewer waste was discussed. Both sides were represented — with citizen comments evenly divided. The LASA offer is appealing in several respects, in that some borough debt could be reduced, and the borough's responsibility for plant maintenance would be eliminated, but other aspects are troubling. First, the borough will not have a seat on the LASA board without the unanimous vote of all seven municipalities. In essence, Columbia might not have a voice in the decisions affecting it. Also, the cost of representation is two million dollars, according to LASA executive director Mike Kyle. Such a sum would significantly reduce any potential cost savings from the deal. Second, current borough sewer employees will not be guaranteed a job with LASA. Simply put, workers will lose their jobs. Third,...

GO HERE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/in-columbia-no-vote-yet-on-wastewater-plan-council-meets/article_787dee7c-e691-11e3-a61e-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Shown below are several photos of piles of chicken manure seen at McGinness's field (also known as McGinness Airport, according to Google Maps) on April 25, 2014. The original blog post is HERE . WGAL's follow-up is  HERE .

The Lancaster Area Sewer Authority is offering $8.6 million to purchase Columbia's wastewater assets and take over its management. If the offer is accepted, according to documents, LASA would also assume responsibility for the principal and interest owed on a bond that was taken out in 2010.  That responsibility would begin at the time the deal is finalized and continue through 2020. This would save the borough $4.27 million in payments. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/lasa-offers-to-buy-columbia-sewer-system-in-million-deal/article_44e34e2c-e2c7-11e3-939a-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/fly-infestation-prompts-moving-tonight-s-columbia-council-meeting/article_511ce80a-e5b1-11e3-ada8-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Due to the fly infestation issue caused by agricultural activities at the McGinness Property, the Joint Borough Council/Municipal Authority meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at 6:00 pm is being moved to a new location and time.  The meeting will be held at the Columbia No. 1 Fire Department at 137 South Front Street at 6:30 pm on Tuesday May 27, 2014. 

MORE TO COME . . . 

Columbia Kettle Works, a craft micro-brewery, has opened in Columbia at 40 N. Third St. The brewpub occupies 7,500 square feet of space on the first floor of  the former United Telephone Co. building. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/columbia-kettle-works-brewery-opens-in-columbia/article_9e4cbd22-e34e-11e3-8460-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

wgal.com recently ran a report that serves as a follow-up my post about piles of chicken manure at McGinness's field HERE . Large numbers of flies that have propagated in the manure have become a nuisance to neighbors. GO HERE .

Susquehanna Bank recently held a rededication ceremony at its Columbia branch, where it completed a $250,000 reconstruction project to the interior of the 104-year-old bank building in the downtown business district. The project began in June 2013 and concluded in October 2013. The rededication ceremony was held on Friday May 9 to celebrate the grand reopening of the facility. The construction project was designed to improve the energy and employee efficiency of the branch. Susquehanna Bank said the project also demonstrates its commitment to be part of the downtown area of Columbia on Locust Street, and further assists in the ongoing improvements of the borough.

In an age of answers, the National Watch & Clock Museum, 514 Poplar St., Columbia, is celebrating the excitement of a little mystery. The museum's newest exhibit, "The Magic of Mystery Clocks," is now open and will run through December. MORE: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/ci_25819485/discover-magic-time

A worker drills into the top of a pier on the Veterans Memorial Bridge to prepare for the installation of a new bridge light. Putting it in place

The Lancaster County Conservancy with funding assistance from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources awarded $72,125 in grant funds to: --Borough of Columbia, $25,000. Funding will be used to determine the best uses and develop a maintenance/operation plan for the soon to be completed Trail and Park Services Building at the borough's River Park.  The grant will also provide funding for the purchase of furniture and interpretive displays. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/six-local-organizations-get-grants-for-susquehanna-riverlands-development/article_b9d5ebfe-e128-11e3-8676-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

The parade will form at 10th and Manor streets, and units will begin marching at 2:30 p.m. The parade will head west on Manor Street to Fourth Street, north to Union Street, west to Second Street, north to Locust Street, east to Sixth Street, and south to Cherry Street, where it will disband. MORE: http://news.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=103264

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-borough-school-district-hires-new-administrators/article_bd2ae86a-dfd2-11e3-bd3a-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/proposed-columbia-school-budget-would-raise-taxes-percent/article_f87dde3c-e071-11e3-8a41-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Norfolk Southern has been transporting up to mile-long Bakken crude oil trains along the Susquehanna River through Lancaster County on the Port Road, passing through river towns such as Columbia and Marietta. The trains continue through southern Lancaster County en route to the Delaware City Refinery in Delaware. On return trips, the tank cars are empty. Norfolk Southern had refused to acknowledge that oil trains were passing through Lancaster County, citing security reasons, until Lancaster Newspapers ran a video of a mile-long train passing through Manor Township. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/federal-government-orders-railroads-to-alert-lancaster-county-of-trains/article_33a15a9a-df80-11e3-81de-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Crews removed about a dozen of the old pole lights on the Veterans Memorial Bridge this afternoon.  According to one of the workers at the scene, a new light will be installed wherever an old one has been removed.  Using a circular saw to cut the base Handling the cut-off pole

Near Burger King at Routes 30 and 441.

From yesterday's  wind turbine tour  at Turkey Point . . . 

Several brass vases are missing at Laurel Hill Cemetery.  Is it still due to  last month's debacle  or are they being stolen by persons unknown?

Some pics from around town over the last few days . . .  Recent additions at the Catholic War Vets  An old-timey sleigh of some sort at Toll Booth  Several engines linked   Skateboarder at River Park. Maybe he didn't see the sign. Oh, there it is - right in front of him.  Can anyone ID this type of plane?  It flew low over the area on Friday afternoon.  It's obviously a kind of cargo transport.  Possibly, a C-130 something or other?  Lots o' nuts 'round here  Well, what the hell? Part of a broken banister or headboard, left lying there. Where did it come from?  Why walk on the sidewalk when you have that whole street right there?  Recent heavy rains have lifted the docks at River Park. The sign says: ADA ACCESSIBLE PIER.  Somehow, I don't think so. It also says: NO SWIMMING. Well, how else are you supposed to get out there?  Another...