Re: LASA - Council must do the right thing - Sell!
The time has come to consider a final decision on LASA. It's not an exaggeration to say that the future solvency of the borough may be at stake. Simply put, the ad hoc committee's final report recommends selling Columbia Borough's sewer system assets to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA). I hope the council will abide by the findings of the report - which it commissioned - and vote for the sale. I hope any council person voting against it will explain why, publicly. I don't understand why the council would commission a report only to ignore it (if that, in fact, proves to be the case). Doing so would be a waste of taxpayers' money.
I won't rehash all the facts and figures here. That information is contained in the final report, which I posted previously HERE.
I won't rehash all the facts and figures here. That information is contained in the final report, which I posted previously HERE.
In regard to rates, we are competing with LASA, which comprises seven other surrounding municipalities. This is a competition we cannot win and which may pull us under financially.
The borough's debt, the empty storefronts, the property taxes that continue to go up and up and up are evidence enough of the need to regionalize and share costs. Selling to LASA could be the beginning of that process. Columbia can't continue to bind itself to yesterday's ideas in the foolish and outdated belief that we are self-sufficient. Let's face it: it's not the same town it was even 50 years ago.
The borough's debt, the empty storefronts, the property taxes that continue to go up and up and up are evidence enough of the need to regionalize and share costs. Selling to LASA could be the beginning of that process. Columbia can't continue to bind itself to yesterday's ideas in the foolish and outdated belief that we are self-sufficient. Let's face it: it's not the same town it was even 50 years ago.
Regionalizing does not mean losing our identity. We're talking about selling a sewer plant. That's all. We'll still have our rich history. Nothing can take that away.
We should cherish our history but look to the future. We are now at a crossroads, and the outcome of this decision will affect generations to come. Let's affect them positively. Let this be the point where we turned things around for Columbia.
We should cherish our history but look to the future. We are now at a crossroads, and the outcome of this decision will affect generations to come. Let's affect them positively. Let this be the point where we turned things around for Columbia.
With all that in mind, I, a lifelong Columbia resident, respectfully ask council to do the right thing. Look to the future. Sell the plant.
(Citizens can make their voices heard at the Municipal Authority meeting this coming Thursday, June 19 at 4:30 p.m., when a vote by the Authority on the LASA sale is expected to take place.
Citizens may also speak at the Committee of the Whole meeting this coming Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m., when a vote might take place.
Both meetings will be held at the Borough Office, 308 Locust Street.)
(Citizens can make their voices heard at the Municipal Authority meeting this coming Thursday, June 19 at 4:30 p.m., when a vote by the Authority on the LASA sale is expected to take place.
Citizens may also speak at the Committee of the Whole meeting this coming Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m., when a vote might take place.
Both meetings will be held at the Borough Office, 308 Locust Street.)
Comments
Speak out against the will of powers in charge of this town and they find ways to strike back at you. It seems most in office are corrupt and everything they do has something in it for themselves.
the problem is it's hard to educate ignorant people.
sorry...but what SHOULD have happened was as follows:
1. CONSOLLDATE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
2. TAX EVERY RENTER 18 YEARS - 60 YEARS OLD TO PAY FOR THEIR KIDS SCHOOLING (our elderly should NOT have to pay..they need the money to pay for thier medications, they have done thier part...doctors STOP signing every tom dick and harry up for disability....WHAT A SIN. LAZY IGNORANT THINK WE ALL OWE YOU SOMETHING.....
GET A J O B....stop MAKING A LIVING OFF WELFARE AND FOOD STAMPS AND MEDICAL INSURANCE. WORK FOR A LIVING LIKE WE DO.
3. INCREASE THE LOCAL 6% TAX SO THAT ALL PAY THEIR SHARE AND NOT ONLY THE FEW (working, taxpaying homeowners!) how hard is it???
4.NO ONE IN OFFICE. LOCAL OR STATE SHOULD HOLD ANY POSITION FOR MORE THAN 4 YEARS AND THEN NO...WE WILL NOT PAY FOR YOUR AND YOU & YOUR FAMILYS INSURANCE AND ALL THE PERKS, pay for it yourself like we have to....pay for your own gas too.
and May God Bless Us...we need him in our lives! Put GOD back in our schools, etc.
Especially ... get a J O B...and STOP making a living out of collecting handouts. The government MUST stop allowing such misuse and abuse of welfare system...people get off your lazy ass and go get a job......and also the social security system...all these immigrants did NOT live here, work here or even contribute anything...yet they are collecting OUR money and MORE benefits than we get AND we work FULL TIME.