Columbia Borough Council OKs sale of sewer system to LASA

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Columbia Borough Council voted 5-2 Feb. 9 to approve a resolution for the sale of itswastewater collection system to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority for $8.6 million.

Comments

Anonymous said…
the absolute BIGGEST mistake the Boro and council have EVER made. Each and every one of Boro mgmt and COUNCIL will be remembered for this frightful move and become legendary for taking down the Boro. kudos... you all deserve it. it's a true shame each and every one of you have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA the repercussions this will have on the Boro. wait all you ignorant people who could care less. next years TAXES WILL DOUBLE.
February 10, 2015 at 5:28 PM
Anonymous said…
NOW.....Let them pay for fixing it up and then tearing it down!!! Our tax loan dollars are going into this plant and we are not going to own it!! What a waste of MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 10, 2015 at 6:40 PM
Anonymous said…
I for one agree 100%... I also said along time ago to buy out the water company plant!! They are CROOKS and we know who they are!! Its a dam shame for these rich people to want more and more!!
February 10, 2015 at 7:25 PM
Anonymous said…
Someone should look into this. I think they are going to use the money for something else then the sewer plant. CLEAN AND GREEN, i think NOT!
February 10, 2015 at 8:25 PM
Anonymous said…
It is really sad when you consider the number of people in this town who are afraid of change. They say negative things without knowing all the details. Part of the high tax issue within the Boro, municipal and school, is the resistance to change.
COLUMBIA PROUD is a good thing and makes a great town. But take a hard honest look around town and realize it is slowly disappearing. More rental properties with persons who just pay rent and don't care about town and persons born in town are moving away.
February 11, 2015 at 5:32 AM
Anonymous said…
good comments. its a shame to that all these rental properties seem to get away with everything. trash and rubbish, high grass and weeds, broken down being worked on vehicles, dog shit everywhere and never cleaned up, disrespectful punks, filth, way too many people living in some of these properties, etc. the list goes on and on. not sure WHY it is ALLOWED. Why in the hell does the Boro have all these "Ordinances" BUT THEY DON"T ENFORCE THEM. Another blatant waste of tax money. Council....wake up.Its a shame people don't have a clue what this all means. The Boro SAYS its trying to revitalize downtown YET it does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help. oh yeah it SELLS the ONLY ASSET IT OWNED. DUMB MOVE
February 11, 2015 at 6:44 AM
Anonymous said…
How is it a change of good when you sell off the things the borough should be keeping for profit of the whole town. Wasting sooo much money and not power thinking at all.
February 11, 2015 at 7:17 AM
Anonymous said…
There were two people on the council who voted not to sell the sewer plant Berry and Weisser so don't be on them they did the right thing.
February 11, 2015 at 9:54 AM
Anonymous said…
Okay, somebody has got to say this loud and clear: The Sewer Plant does not make one cent for the borough, the borough being us tax paying residents. The rates have done nothing but go up and up for as long as I have lived here. Under control of the MA and with trying to stay compliant, the rates will continue to rise. Get over it, it's a done deal!
February 11, 2015 at 10:25 AM
Anonymous said…
Um....that's because Stephanie Weisser owns a cabin along the river. Surely she and many other cabin owners were hoping that us taxpayers would pay to have sewer lines installed under the direction of the current Municipal Authority. As for Beury? Well attend a meeting and you'll see for yourself he is just an idiot who often falls asleep at the wheel.
February 11, 2015 at 10:42 AM
Anonymous said…
sure...lets hear you scream the loudest when you get your first LASA bill for 3 months for somewhere close to $90........instead of less than $60.
February 11, 2015 at 12:23 PM
Anonymous said…
It's not profit when costs millions to bring in compliance
February 11, 2015 at 2:05 PM
Anonymous said…
Taxes will not double. The sewer plant was not a cash cow like many think. Yes, some of the borough managers cost was offset by the sewer fund but that will be offset by employees who will be laid off. I am glad to see the borough get out of it. With the cost of bringing it into compliance and the age of the infrastructure, I could see keeping the plant a huge fiscal liability in the future. When the infrastructure does need replaced, the cost will be spread across all LASA customers, not just us.
February 11, 2015 at 3:23 PM
Anonymous said…
Glad to see someone else understands and sees the big picture.
February 11, 2015 at 9:36 PM
Anonymous said…
the truly sad thing here is you don't fully understand the repercussions of this deal...how in the heck do you think the boro is going to operate???? the sewer plant paid for much more than you'll ever know since you are close minded and make statements not knowing the facts! guess what...don't be surprised when you county municipal taxes double next year because of it and because of the boros and councils need to be big spenders. the boro will be dead broke within one year. $5 million debt MUST be paid right off the top of the $8.6 million price tag to sell the plant. that's more than half with nothing to show for it. thats why we are in the shape we are in.
February 12, 2015 at 6:43 AM
Anonymous said…
They get grants for everything else, why not the sewer plant!
February 12, 2015 at 7:02 AM
Anonymous said…
The funds from operating the sewer plant were never legally allowed to be used for other boro expenses. Review the state municipal codes for operating an Authority. If funds were used for other expenses the boro is already in trouble and would have to repay the authority those misappropriated funds, plus possible prosecution of those in charge.
February 12, 2015 at 10:14 AM
Anonymous said…
The is not entirely correct. Funds from the sewer plant can be used to pay for services provided by the borough. For example, part of the managers salary normally comes out of a sewer authorities budget as the manager oversees the operation. The sewer authority could reimburse the borough for trucks, employees, etc, who provide services to the authority. What can't happen, and I heard it happened back in the 80's, is for the borough to use sewer authority funds for expenses that have no relationship with the operation of the sewer plant, such as purchasing a new police car.
February 12, 2015 at 11:28 AM
Anonymous said…
THAT would be a break for me, can't happen soon enough!! My current bill is almost $50.
February 12, 2015 at 3:09 PM
Anonymous said…
That's correct all expenditures and income must be related to the operation of the sewer plant. Money is not used to support other boro functions. Really do not see how loss will increase costs.
If less work then cut the overhead as industry does. Not always easy to do, but that is the reality of the working world. Too many want things just handed out or expect taxpayers to support them forever. When expenses need cut you do what has to be done.
February 12, 2015 at 3:20 PM
Anonymous said…
AMEN!!!!
February 12, 2015 at 8:41 PM
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