COLUMBIA SPY

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/live-at-p-m-talk-with-columbia-school-leaders-carol/article_78311204-fd5d-11e3-8310-0017a43b2370.html

GO HERE: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/what-now-solutions-needed-for-columbia-schools-here-are-some/article_a6084e44-fca0-11e3-bf37-0017a43b2370.html

More on Columbia's condition: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/failing-in-slow-motion-a-community-s-helping-hands/article_419dfa5a-fc94-11e3-a839-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Some shots from around town recently . . . A peek inside the mausoleum at Mount Bethel Cemetery A miniature crucifix at the port hole One ancient myth says that when a person dies, a crow carries the soul to heaven.  On Friday (June 27), a conservation officer kept watch on the river from a vantage point at River Park.  Four Waterways Conservation vehicles were parked there, two with empty boat trailers. One assumes the officers were out patrolling the river.  The two vehicles with trailers were parked in the appropriate parking spaces.  But wait, what's this - a violation?  Meanwhile, a stray cat checked out a dobsonfly.  On the 100 block of Locust - a sign of Columbia's more prosperous past. Skeletal frame of the River Park center Artists at work on Saturday morning (June 28) . . .  Seen in Wrightsville yesterday.  What is it?  May as well park on the s...

Exhibit starts today

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/failing-in-slow-motion-how-poverty-impacts-the-classroom-in/article_74c48770-fbe8-11e3-af97-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Columbia officials voted on June 23 to sell the borough's wastewater assets to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority. Here are 10 key points about the deal GO HERE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/things-to-know-about-columbia-s-sale-of-its-wastewater/article_5d2f15a0-fd6c-11e3-b127-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Today, Lancaster Newspapers began an informative series of reports  on Columbia Borough's financial state, an apt time to do so, considering Monday night's council vote on LASA. As I read the report, I found it quite troubling that PA State Representative Dave Hickernell, who represents the borough, refuses to state whether or not he supports a natural gas extraction tax or other tax to help fund education. Setting aside my belief that in politcalese that means "no," I have to ask Rep. Hickernell two questions: 1. What is your stand? 2. Why are you afraid to make your views known? We, as taxpayers, have the right to know a public servant's stance as well as the justification for it. Rep. Hickernell must have built-in night vision, considering how he operates so much in the dark.  For example, when questioned by Columbia Borough Councilman Jim Smith at  a town meeting last December  on why the borough did not get any of the extra $30.3 million in state fu...

Property owners in the Columbia Borough School District will face a 3.06 percent tax increase under a new $22.3 million school budget approved on June 19. The budget, passed unanimously, will raise Columbia's tax rate to 28.2 mills — one of the highest rates in the county. The 0.838-of-a-mill increase will mean an additional $67.46 in taxes per year for a property assessed at $80,500 — the median homestead value in Columbia. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/taxes-increasing-in-columbia-school-budget/article_6a6c5a68-fbda-11e3-ae24-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Several points stand out from last night's Committee of the Whole meeting. First, the unexplained absence of Councilman Jim Smith - peculiarly, during a very significant vote for the borough. Perhaps there is an acceptable, legitimate reason for it, but residents are owed an explanation. Without one, speculation will continue to run rampant. Second, Council President Mike Beury's assertion that, despite the audience's expectations, a vote would not take place due to the lack of a full council, which made Smith's absence even more peculiar. His disdain for the sale and disregard for residents' wishes was expressed in his casual dismissal of the petition presented to council, his attitude throughout the meeting, and his vote. Third, in a transparent stalling tactic to further delay a vote, several officials and council members attempted to muddy the waters with contrived questions and minutiae that should have been presented months ago. The Ad Hoc Committee was ...

In a 4-2 decision, Columbia Borough Council voted at tonight's Committee of the Whole meeting to sell its wastewater treatment assets to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority. Voting for the sale were Councilpersons Ford, Murphy, Gable, and Barninger. Weisser and Beury voted against. Councilman Jim Smith was absent. Tonight's vote follows last week's 4-1 vote for the sale by the Columbia Municipal Authority and eliminates the final barrier to the sale. After continued deliberation at the meeting by the council and other officials, as well as input from citizens, it seemed the matter would be delayed indefinitely. Councilman Barry Ford stated his wish to move forward with the issue. Councilman Kelly Murphy cut through the Gordian knot by making a motion for the sale, which Ford seconded, and a vote was taken. LASA Executive Director Mike Kyle addresses Council at the Meeting of the Whole

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/coming-this-week-a-special-report-on-columbia-s-public/article_a2e62f5a-faf3-11e3-83c4-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

A suspect in the burglaries of 3 businesses in Columbia has been arrested. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/suspect-in-columbia-burglaries-is-arrested/article_398cc55a-fad5-11e3-b88e-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

The Columbia Borough Council Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 23, at 6 p.m. at the Borough Office, 308 Locust Street. Council is expected to vote on the LASA sale.

Some recent pics from around town . . .  Really?  I wonder if they caught the perpetrator. (Laurel Hill Cemetery)  Smoothing . . .   the concrete.  Mark Kise's masterpiece is finished.  Graffiti  Crow  Peeking out  Out Off Business (Does that mean they're out of business, because business was off?)  Ribbed sky Progress at River Park

Some views of today's Thunder on the River car show . . .