COLUMBIA SPY

Columbia Borough's fall newsletter, The Columbia Connection , is currently being mailed to residents. The publication contains news, calendars of events, and project updates. The newsletter is available as a pdf  HERE .

Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz questions the Columbia Water Company's proposed rate increases at a hearing in Marietta on September 27. Columbia Borough Council President Kelly Murphy and Mayor Leo Lutz questioned the Columbia Water Company's recent request for a rate increase of just over 13% at a hearing on Wednesday.  Murphy and Lutz spoke under oath at a hearing conducted by the PA Public Utility Commission's Office of Administrative Law Judge at Marietta Borough Hall. Murphy requested that the rate increase be denied. In a prepared statement, he described as "excessive" the requested rate increases of 13.18% for residents using 3,000 gallons of water per month, and 13.21% for commercial customers. He said Columbia residents cannot afford the rate increases requested. Murphy said rate increases typically follow capital improvement projects within the municipality in which increases are being proposed. He noted, however, that the borough is not aware of any ...

Residents have expressed concern about the LEAD-SAFE COLUMBIA project that will be initiated by Healthy Columbia under the fiscal sponsorship of Catholic Health Initiatives-St. Joseph Children's Health. This is a voluntary program that will offer lead screening and financial assistance if necessary. Columbia Borough will begin its LEAD-HAZARD Screening program by first ensuring that all Blighted Properties, Vacant Properties, and Condemned Properties, are screened prior to occupancy. The program will expand after educational programs are presented to the public and training of Borough Officials is completed. A time and location will be announced shortly for a community information session. Lead is dangerous for children, and a community health issue. Many studies have proven that the higher the lead exposure, the lower the standardized test scores in school-age children. Even low levels of lead exposure can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed g...

Columbia Borough will not suspend the U.S. Constitution. That's the message Borough Manager Greg Sahd would like to convey to residents. Due to inaccuracies in a recent LNP article, many mistakenly believe the Borough will force draconian regulations on property owners because of a recently introduced lead paint inspection initiative. Doing so would be a violation of the Constitution's Fourth Amendment guaranteeing citizens the right to be secure in their houses, Sahd pointed out. He added that bringing properties into such strict compliance could also bankrupt owners. The Borough can’t take any action independent of current federal and state regulations dealing with lead in residences. The LNP article's first sentence caused concern for many residents: “Columbia will begin testing every home and apartment in the borough for lead beginning next week.”  This statement was repeated in an editorial in today's LNP. Sahd said that no Borough official made a state...

"We commend borough officials for recognizing a problem and taking steps to solve it — a welcome change of pace for government at any level." MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/much-needed-help-for-the-opioid-crisis-and-testing-for/article_0f553d26-a47d-11e7-b175-fb99c97aac81.html

Columbia will begin testing every home and apartment in the borough for lead beginning next week. MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/insider/new-program-in-columbia-aims-to-test-every-borough-home/article_0733c1c8-a2ff-11e7-b9e8-6b1c29328f94.html

It's an opportunity for the borough. Right now, there's no medical marijuana facilities set to come to Columbia, but officials say it's about being proactive. MORE: http://fox43.com/2017/09/26/neighbors-react-to-columbia-looking-to-amend-zoning-ordinance-for-medical-marijuana-facilities/

Folks took advantage of the warm weather over the past few days to get out and about to fix up, clean up and dig up around town... There was a JLG on high at 3rd & Locust.  And a pressure washing project at 4th & Locust.  And an "Amish" high and dry, aloof on a roof at South 2nd & Cherry.  There were guys in white looking up ladders on North 3rd. And the rest of a lightning-damaged chimney at Locust Street and Bank Avenue was coming down.  Here are some of the bricks that were collected. And here's a longer view. And there's another JLG.  And there are the guys taking down the bricks. Just up the block - yes, another JLG And there's the driver.  And there he goes. The self-storage project along Front Street appears to be done. Rewiring was being done yesterday on North 4th. UGI was digging up the 500 block of Walnut to install new services and redo old mains. W...

Columbia Borough is looking to amend its zoning to allow medical marijuana dispensaries and growers or processors in areas zoned "light industrial." MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/insider/columbia-moves-to-become-st-county-municipality-to-zone-for/article_38357c92-a248-11e7-b68d-2f76f897a2d7.html

Columbia currently boasts five large murals within its borders - one a work in progress - with the promise of a large-scale project on the way that will include community participation. This painting of Columbia poet and painter Lloyd Mifflin was rendered by Columbia artist Mark Kise on the rear wall of the Foresters building facing, appropriately enough, the Columbia Historic Preservation Society. The mural was completed in 2014. Many travelers along Route 462 have marveled at this wall-sized mural that Columbians know well. The painting was commissioned by the renowned National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and was rendered by artist Marion Stephenson.  This giant mural was painted on the back wall of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School at Fourth and Cherry. This mural, composed of thousands of small square tiles, is located on the north wall of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors at Fourth and Poplar. The association...

The hearings, by the PUC's Office of Administrative Law Judge, will be held at the following location and times: Wednesday, September 27 – 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Marietta Borough Hall Council Chambers 111 East Market St. Marietta, PA 17547 MORE: http://fox43.com/2017/09/25/upcoming-public-input-hearings-for-columbia-water-company-rate-increase-request/

"I am tired of reading in the paper that a person from, say, Columbia is arrested for an incident that occurs in Columbia, and then when reading the article, being from Columbia, knowing the location is not in Columbia Borough, but maybe West Hempfield Township, Rapho Township or even Manor Township." MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/be-more-specific-with-addresses/article_292839f2-9fa9-11e7-b90c-37e8372d9c12.html

"This type of negative reporting has a serious effect on the economic development and revitalization efforts of many Columbia Borough residents and businesses." MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/headline-unfairly-tars-columbia/article_631a6240-9fac-11e7-b16a-37c13d4f7875.html

Recent pics from about town...  Sign down!  Man down!  Here we go again.  Jeeeez!  Some sort of flag statement?  Speaking of flags, would anyone salute this abomination? Chauffeur-driven dogmobile  Dusk  This old farmhouse at Cloverton Drive and Kinderhook Road...  ...has been condemned.  Signs have been taped to the property...  ...stating that it's an unlawful structure.  ??? ***  Heritage Drive has been paved.  A view from the Union Street end. ***  House of Cutz has left the building.  Newly laid memorial walk at Mount Bethel  Golden cross at Mount Bethel Does Indiana Jones know?  Outta here  Bug-encrusted old-timey lamp fixture at the Lancaster General Hospital Susquehanna Division - site of the former Columbia Hospital.  Another one   Black cat ...