Columbia is advised to accept LASA plan for wastewater treatment
Columbia Borough's ad hoc wastewater management committee has recommended to council that the borough accept Lancaster Area Sewer Authority's proposal to assume wastewater treatment and management.
THIS SHOULD BE ON THE BALLOT....OR AT THE VERY LEAST A SURVEY OF EACH AND EVERY WASTE WATER USER IN THIS BORO. AT THE VERY LEAST. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE AT THE VERY LEAST AT LEAST 3 PUBLIC MEETINGS AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS (MAYBE NEXT ONE AT COLA #1 FOR THOSE WHO WALK) AND ALL INFORMATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE...NOT ONLY A LIMITED CAREFULLY PICKED AMOUNT.
This would be the first step in Columbia boro progressing. This committee had one agenda look at all the options available to treat Columbias waste water at the most efficient cost now & in the future. If council fails to go along with this committees recomendation Columbia politics will continue to make decisions for the benefit of a few to the detriment of the many.
Columbia people don't care there were hardly any people at the meeting on Monday night. The word has to get out more about what's happening in our town. The room should've been crowded. Get the word out before the next meeting wherever it is held.
ALL CAPS person you are really annoying, to the point that it is obvious you are an employee of the WW. I will make a point to get as many West Hempfield residents to this meeting as possible. They are logical thinkers and will support the sale of the plant. It is not a money maker for me as I am a paying customer. I've seen two increases in the past six years of 20% each. None of my other utilities have gone up 40% in 6 years. This borough doesn't know how to manage money and this will be one less financial mismanagement I will have to be a victim of.
As a landlord who has single family homes in both Columbia area & LASA served areas my families in the Columbia served area are averaging $50 - $70/mo for sewer bills. The same sized families in the LASA served areas pay $28/mo (doesn't mater how much they use) The previous writer is correct the Columbia sewer customers have had dramatic increases, LASA was in the single digits percentage wise.
Where does Columbia recoup its current salaries of four Columbia employees in five, ten or twenty years from now? Who is paying for the upkeep of the sewer lines in the town? (Which LASA did not want in the original offer) Who is paying for the pipeline to the LASA Anchor Road location? Upgrades to the current waste water plant can be funded by grants, and Columbia can benefit for the future. LASA will put this responsibility on the homeowner for major projects when necessary. It is great to think that this plant is a burden on the town, but instant money is not future money.
I think you need to do your research on LASA before you make a response like this. LASA has taken over other sewer customers like Manheim Twp with these same issues. Part of the appraisal LASA did to see what the Columbia system was worth involved the sewer lines & employee issues. After calculating this LASA will still pay Columbia a significant amount for the system. After LASA takes over the system customers can be guaranteed of their rates with what's written in the contract for many years to come. Deffinitely not the case if we choose to upgrade the sewer plant & hold on to the old infrastructure which surely will need major capital in the years to come. So do we want to continue to hope for grants (which we know aren't a sure thing) or go with LASA who has proven to be very cost effective to our surrounding communities at treating their waste water.
If our council votes to go in a different direction than the sewer committees recommendation, I want their explanation for doing so. I haven't seen one good reason to update our old plant.
Any resident who doesn't think we should go with LASA needs to see their proposal. They are offering millions of dollars to take over our system, & guaranteeing customers of Columbia the same rate as their other customers. There are so many other benefits to Columbia in that proposal its no wonder the adhoc committee advised Columbia to go with LASA. All Columbia customers please attend the meeting at the fire co. nextTues. the 27 to tell your council to make the right decision for the Columbia sewer customers & go withLASA.
Cole you have got to get a copy of the proposal & post at least the highlights for y our viewers to see. Don't let Columbia officials use the pay for a copy to keep people from seeing this Its to the advantage of the boro occupants to see the LASA offer
WHO does Mike Schober work for???? LASA ????? very disapointted in this story and the statements made.
ReplyDeleteTHIS SHOULD BE ON THE BALLOT....OR AT THE VERY LEAST A SURVEY OF EACH AND EVERY WASTE WATER USER IN THIS BORO. AT THE VERY LEAST.
ReplyDeleteTHERE SHOULD ALSO BE AT THE VERY LEAST AT LEAST 3 PUBLIC MEETINGS AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS (MAYBE NEXT ONE AT COLA #1 FOR THOSE WHO WALK) AND ALL INFORMATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE...NOT ONLY A LIMITED CAREFULLY PICKED AMOUNT.
This would be the first step in Columbia boro progressing. This committee had one agenda look at all the options available to treat Columbias waste water at the most efficient cost now & in the future. If council fails to go along with this committees recomendation Columbia politics will continue to make decisions for the benefit of a few to the detriment of the many.
ReplyDeleteColumbia people don't care there were hardly any people at the meeting on Monday night. The word has to get out more about what's happening in our town. The room should've been crowded. Get the word out before the next meeting wherever it is held.
ReplyDeleteALL CAPS person you are really annoying, to the point that it is obvious you are an employee of the WW. I will make a point to get as many West Hempfield residents to this meeting as possible. They are logical thinkers and will support the sale of the plant. It is not a money maker for me as I am a paying customer. I've seen two increases in the past six years of 20% each. None of my other utilities have gone up 40% in 6 years. This borough doesn't know how to manage money and this will be one less financial mismanagement I will have to be a victim of.
ReplyDeleteAs a landlord who has single family homes in both Columbia area & LASA served areas my families in the Columbia served area are averaging $50 - $70/mo for sewer bills.
ReplyDeleteThe same sized families in the LASA served areas pay $28/mo (doesn't mater how much they use)
The previous writer is correct the Columbia sewer customers have had dramatic increases, LASA was in the single digits percentage wise.
Answer these questions:
ReplyDeleteWhere does Columbia recoup its current salaries of four Columbia employees in five, ten or twenty years from now?
Who is paying for the upkeep of the sewer lines in the town? (Which LASA did not want in the original offer)
Who is paying for the pipeline to the LASA Anchor Road location?
Upgrades to the current waste water plant can be funded by grants, and Columbia can benefit for the future. LASA will put this responsibility on the homeowner for major projects when necessary. It is great to think that this plant is a burden on the town, but instant money is not future money.
I think you need to do your research on LASA before you make a response like this. LASA has taken over other sewer customers like Manheim Twp with these same issues. Part of the appraisal LASA did to see what the Columbia system was worth involved the sewer lines & employee issues. After calculating this LASA will still pay Columbia a significant amount for the system. After LASA takes over the system customers can be guaranteed of their rates with what's written in the contract for many years to come. Deffinitely not the case if we choose to upgrade the sewer plant & hold on to the old infrastructure which surely will need major capital in the years to come.
DeleteSo do we want to continue to hope for grants (which we know aren't a sure thing) or go with LASA who has proven to be very cost effective to our surrounding communities at treating their waste water.
Sell it, go with LASA!
ReplyDeleteGRANTS? Wish in one hand, crap in the other - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV-p51fvYLc
ReplyDeleteIf our council votes to go in a different direction than the sewer committees recommendation, I want their explanation for doing so. I haven't seen one good reason to update our old plant.
ReplyDeleteAny resident who doesn't think we should go with LASA needs to see their proposal. They are offering millions of dollars to take over our system, & guaranteeing customers of Columbia the same rate as their other customers. There are so many other benefits to Columbia in that proposal its no wonder the adhoc committee advised Columbia to go with LASA. All Columbia customers please attend the meeting at the fire co. nextTues. the 27 to tell your council to make the right decision for the Columbia sewer customers & go withLASA.
DeleteCole you have got to get a copy of the proposal & post at least the highlights for y our viewers to see.
ReplyDeleteDon't let Columbia officials use the pay for a copy to keep people from seeing this
Its to the advantage of the boro occupants to see the LASA offer