Tuesday, April 11, 2017

A few takeaways from Borough Council meeting April 10, 2017




The McGinness property at 1020 Manor Street

1) Council voted 5-1 to purchase the McGinness property which contains eight tracts of ground constituting approximately 58 acres of land located within the Borough of Columbia and West Hempfield Township. The sale price is $1.625 million, and the appraisal is $1.71 million. Councillor John Novak was the only NO vote. Details to follow.


Recent listing for 208-210 Locust Street

2) Council is considering an offer from Sam and Cindy Bigler to deed the property located at 208-210 Locust Street to Columbia Borough to satisfy borough liens currently associated with the property. Borough liens total $51,911.17. The Biglers will need to satisfy mortgage debt and other liens before the borough would acquire the property.

According to realtor.com the property is listed with SHEPH Real Estate for sale at $49,900. Details to follow.


Dr. Sherry Welsh at May 11, 2015 Borough Council meeting

3) Council accepted the resignation of Dr. Sherry Welsh, effective March 17, 2017, according to her resignation letter. Welsh was appointed by Council on May 11, 2015 to fill a seat vacated a few months earlier by Jody Gable. Dr. Welsh was to serve out the remainder of the term, which is 2-1/2 years. Welsh, who holds a doctorate in social work, is operations manager for York-Adams Transportation Authority and also works part time as a therapist.

4) Council approved purchasing 31 Dell Optiplex personal computers from Staples Business Advantage at a cost of $18,356, and two Dell Power Edge Servers from EZ solutions at a cost of $15,957.

5) Council approved the purchase of a brine machine at a cost not to exceed $45,000, a Kubota RTV with blade attachment at a cost of $20,508, and a snowblower attachment with chute for current skid steer unit at a cost of $7,836.

6) Council approved purchase of a street sweeper at a cost of $221,877, a snowblower at a cost of $124,547, and a compact trackloader with bucket attachment at a cost of $51,463.

MORE TO FOLLOW

30 comments:

  1. Even though most of the spenditures may be needed, where is the money coming from.
    The McGinnis property may be a good purchase, I hope the borough developes it wisely. If businesses would want to build there, work with them, be business friendly,if housing or mix use, develope it to get the most tax dollars in the long run. A lot can be done with 58 acres
    .


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    Replies
    1. The money is coming from the $10 million loan against the LASA CD's. At this rate, council will need to borrow more money, real soon!

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    2. Maybe the borough can plant trees that grow money, since they are spending it fast. What happens when they run out?

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  2. It was for sale for 1 year or more and couldn't sale.Professional perspective produced and marketed accordingly.Housing not a varible option since it would put more children into schools and taxes received from housing would not cover increase in school budget. Shown many times but no takers.

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  3. Thank you John for not being afraid to have your own voice, as always. We need 6 more of you that can think for themselves.

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  4. That LASA money sure is burning a whole in councils pocket. The land purchase a huge waste & mistake. So sad, let's buy what others don't want must be the motto here.

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    1. According to a person in authority the LASA money has not been touched.
      Sharon

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  5. OH MY GOODNESS!! So the Borough won the lottery and they are spending every penny of it, on anything they can?? I would hope this is the reason for all their spending, while others are still suffering with taxes, price increases for fuel, etc., and by the way, I really hope the gasoline 'given' to all the EMS vehicles is being used for just emergency uses and not for their family outings/shopping/etc.

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  6. People your Boro Council is CORRUPT and they are going to cost a lot of you to lose your Property, they don care about you.DEMAND SATISFACTION

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  7. Thanks to one real estate person this is coming true for him! Remember the rule , those who have the gold shall make the rules!

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    Replies
    1. Now I see. Thanks for bringing this out. It is becoming quite clear. If it's who I think it is, he created the idea and the deal.

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  8. the Boro MUST NOT take on Biglers property...he will NOT satisfy mortgage, etc......

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    Replies
    1. I agree. If they would take ownership of this eyesore, what would prevent other property owners with run down buildings come before the Borough and ask the borough to buy theirs.

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  9. Kleen-Rite built a very impressive warehouse near Donegal Junior High. Rumor has it that a generous offer was made to purchase the airfield property.
    It was turned down. Now Donegal collects tax dollars not Columbia.
    Borough Council would not have had to put any money out had the deal gone through with Kleen-Rite.

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  10. Why doesn't the borough go around town and knock on homeowners doors and ask them if they can afford their taxes!! If not, then the borough will buy their home for a fare price!! Once they buy up the properties the so called to beeees of the highest can do whatever the HELL they want!!

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  11. These issues should be voted by the TAX PAYERS!! Should be put on the ballet!!

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  12. On Columbia News, Views and Reviews has the Mayor commenting on if developed the property could be worth $20 million dollars and bring jobs to Columbia.

    Could this make up for the many jobs that have left the Borough in the last five years in Gordon Waste and KleeRite. How did this get voted on before the public was aware of this transaction? Was there meetings held secretly? What plans were made publicly on development? Do the residents of Manor Street agree on this transaction? What size trucks are allowed on Manor Street?
    Concerns to ask the Borough of Columbia if I owned a home on Manor Street.
    20ft straights,tandem axle, 48' or 53' ft trailers, night time activities, lighting, weight classes, traffic modifications, noise ordinance and home values?

    I can buy 200 acres off of State Road and be on 283 in three minutes. Why invest in a town that is NOT business friendly?

    Thanks to John Novak for thinking of the citizens.

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  13. Would the council spend this much money if it was coming out there own pockets I don't think so but they sure don't care when they are spending the tax payers money time for a whole new council and the sooner the better

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    1. There's at least one council person who is very well practiced at spending others money. He now teaches the others, except for John. Again, thank you John for putting taxpayers first.

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  14. Received the new Borough brochure in the mail yesterday.Very nice,overall. When I read about the Market House, the history part was good, but if I was a visitor reading it, the hours and what type of venders were missing. Why? The council has no direction as to what they want to do. Council held interviews for manager and nothing else done. Buying equipment,real estate,applying for grants and leaving a gem go down. Make a decision on what you want for a market, council and go from there.

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  15. Was there an environmental study done. Those of us who lived around there know what George dumped in quarry, & used as fill to make runways.

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    Replies
    1. The agreement includes a 90-day "due diligence" period, during which the borough will do environmental studies, title search, etc.

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  16. How can any borough council make a decision to spend 1.625 million dollars and have everything hush hush until voting is over.

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    Replies
    1. Sunshine Law VIOLATION! BOOM.

      Maybe people are starting to see it.

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  17. I feel that an environmental study should have been done also.If the majority of the ground would test bad,just imagine the cost for clean up.It was mentioned that some of the ground is in West Hempfield. Any reaction from them?

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  18. The quarry and it's cliffs now becomes the borough's liability.

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  19. It's time to stop council from spending our money. Our town is going bankrupt. We need a standing room only of people at the next council meeting to let them know we mean business. Older people in our town can't afford more taxes. You guys on council must all be rich to keep spending the people's money.

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  20. Seems Borough Council is quite interested in the real estate business... Smh

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  21. Another mindless and expensive decision (McGinnis). More will be spent keeping the grass and weeds than what these dreamers hope will be paid in taxes by the imaginary companies that will hire imaginary workers. I truly think there is something tragically wrong with council members who vote on this carp. It borders on delusional insanity. And most of the streets are still horrible.

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  22. environmental study very costly. it should have be done by owners to sell it! i agree. why not haggle on price. why pay top dollar. and why not let the taxpaying homeowners o fthis town in on what the hells going on in it???? who the hell do you think is paying for all this nonsense. and the sunshine act. report the boro.

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