Borough hires Susquehanna Heritage to run the trolley

By -
Columbia Trolley Works trolley
[Columbia Spy file photo]


At Monday's meeting, Columbia Borough Council unanimously approved an "Addendum to Professional Services Agreement Between The Borough of Columbia AND The Susquehanna Heritage Corporation..." for management and marketing of the borough-owned Columbia Trolley Works trolley.

As part of the agreement, the borough will provide $11,000 annually to Susquehanna Heritage "for costs associated with management of the Trolley." The breakdown of anticipated annual costs is as follows:
  • Trolley Management: $4,000
  • On-Board Interpretation - (Trolley Guides-formerly known as volunteers), two part-time positions: $4,000.
  • Support costs: (Equipment, signs, brochures, insurance, miscellaneous): $2,000.
  • SHC Administrative Support: (Accounting, Personnel Management, etc.):  $1,000

Excerpts from the agreement:
  • Trolley Maintenance: The borough shall ensure that the trolley is maintained and operated in a manner that complies with local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to its operation, including licenses and other requirements of the public utility commission and/or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Costs associated with maintaining and fueling the Trolley are the sole responsibility of the borough. The Borough shall maintain and fuel the Trolley so that it is readily available for use year-round, including maintaining a fully functional heat and air conditioning system. The Borough shall immediately inform Susquehanna Heritage of any mechanical or other issues that prevent the Trolley from operating. The Trolley shall be housed and maintained by the Borough at a location to be determined by the Borough.
  • Scheduling and staffing: The Borough shall be responsible for recruiting, selecting, training, supervising, and compensating employees assigned to drive and maintain the Trolley. All such employees shall be employees of the Borough and not employees of Susquehanna Heritage... It shall be the responsibility of the Borough Manager to handle any personnel issues relating to Borough employees and the Trolley operation.
The complete document can be found HERE.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Why don't the borough do all of this ,they have plenty of people now. Maybe they will house it in the market house, and have a legal parking space for the mayors truck too. (parking 20 feet from a cross walk)
March 14, 2018 at 9:21 AM
Anonymous said…
This will bring the trail walkers and boaters up into town,for free at tax payers expence.
March 14, 2018 at 9:29 AM
Anonymous said…
HERE IS AN IDEA, SELL THE P.O.S!!!!
March 14, 2018 at 11:36 AM
Anonymous said…
This was a council mans idea (trolley) Now the borough has to pay people to drive,up keep,fuel,and pay s/h 11,000 to advertise a free ride. All at tax payers expence. Whats wrong with this group of people spending our tax money? The council man that had this brain storm DOES'T PAY HIS OWN BILLS proven over and over.
March 14, 2018 at 2:35 PM
Chaos said…
Why don't they use it to take kids to school
March 14, 2018 at 2:42 PM
Anonymous said…
I hope it does't use the streets in Columbia like walnut st it will be a very high bill to fix from the holes and ditches in them. GREAT IDEA CLEON (cash only)
March 14, 2018 at 2:50 PM
Anonymous said…
THIS IS MORE SMOKE, BOROUGH PAYS 11,000 FOR WHAT ,THEY PAY DRIVER,FUEL REPAIRS,INSURANCE(ON THE TROLLEY) to run weekends for maybe 4 to 5 months,thats $2,200 a month for 5 month. GREAT IDEAS COME OUT OF THIS GROUP.
March 14, 2018 at 2:59 PM
Anonymous said…
Wasn't this from the Community Development Committee headed by Mr Coffee? How much money was gained in this or lost? Should be public knowledge.
March 14, 2018 at 3:26 PM
Anonymous said…
We, the people of this borough that actually now own this trolley, need to see the results from last summer. Where are the facts and figures? We need to demand to see how much was gained or lost. I would like to know the total price for fuel to operate it in 2017. Will it maintain the same route as last year? Looks like we are responsible for everything and we will give Susquehanna Heritage $11,000 to manage it? Anyone attending meetings should wear boots cause it's really getting deep.

March 14, 2018 at 6:13 PM
Anonymous said…
this trolley is ridiculous. Our taxes pay for it then we have to ride it. Let's do some things to save our tax money. I wish I was as rich as the people on boro council who have this kind of money to agree with it all. They must like to pay our taxes.
March 14, 2018 at 7:51 PM
Anonymous said…
This should be a public document. Ask for it and also ask the Chamber who was involved. Unless they use creative numbers crunching, the figures aren't good.
March 15, 2018 at 9:53 AM
Anonymous said…
hoe much did they pay for it to start?
March 15, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Anonymous said…
Wait till you see this SMOKE.
March 15, 2018 at 2:46 PM
Anonymous said…
What about the market house, he was part of that mess to, and how much is that going to cost tax payers to fix the floor?
March 15, 2018 at 3:20 PM
Anonymous said…
DO THEY ALL LIVE HERE??
March 15, 2018 at 3:21 PM
Anonymous said…
It takes 60 to 90 days to filter and post council meeting minutes
March 15, 2018 at 7:04 PM
Anonymous said…
That would require another police officer to hold order.
March 16, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Anonymous said…
Stop asking this same stupid question!!! Asked and Answered 100 times, NO THEY DON'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 16, 2018 at 3:00 PM
Anonymous said…
WHY? to spend our money they should
March 17, 2018 at 8:53 AM
Anonymous said…
They can use the trolley bus to drive all the code enforcement officers around.
March 17, 2018 at 10:02 AM
Anonymous said…
Get a double decker
March 21, 2018 at 7:32 PM
Anonymous said…
$40,000 to buy it . it made about $60 a week DO THE MATH
March 23, 2018 at 7:14 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Columbia's decision to ban former employee from its property may be 'unconstitutional' [Lancaster Watchdog]

By Columbia Spy -
Image
Chris Vera [Columbia Spy file photo] The following information is excerpted from a December 6, 2025 LNP Watchdog article by LNP | LancasterOnline reporter Jade Campos. Still reeling from an abrupt firing from his role as head of the Columbia Market House in March, Chris Vera was surprised to get a letter in the mail from a Columbia Borough attorney two weeks later telling him he was banned indefinitely from borough property. The letter gave no reason for the ban. Nine months later, Vera, who has served as president of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society for more than a decade and has helped with the borough’s comprehensive plan, is still banned from borough property. He believes the ban includes borough parks, which is part of the reason he moved his annual Albatwitch Day festival, which celebrates the myth of a local cryptid, to Wrightsville. Vera said he’s not sure why the borough went to such lengths to keep him away from public spaces given his termination from the borough s...
Read more

East Donegal man charged in Columbia hit & run

By Columbia Spy -
Image
NATHAN WILLISON | LNP Staff Writer An East Donegal Township man is facing criminal charges after police say he struck a 13-year-old with his truck and fled the scene last month.  Derek Scott Mohr, 28, is charged with causing an accident involving death or injury without a license, failing to stop to render aid, driving at an unsafe speed and related charges.  Mohr had been driving a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado through Chestnut Street in Columbia around 8 p.m. March 20 when he struck a 13-year-old boy riding a motorized scooter and continued driving, according to charging documents filed by police.  When police arrived, they found the boy with a broken leg and a cut to his forehead. His scooter was lying nearby, its handlebars completely snapped off.  Another teenager who witnessed what happened described the truck to police and said that the driver made no attempt to stop after striking the boy. Surveillance footage collected from the area shows the truck striking the b...
Read more

Mayor Lutz must accept responsibility

By Columbia Spy -
Image
  GUEST COMMENTARY [Name withheld by request out of fear of retaliation] For two decades, Leo Lutz has occupied the mayor's office in Columbia, and his supporters are quick to credit him with every positive development in our borough, but leadership is a two-way street. If Mayor Lutz is going to accept praise for Columbia's successes, many of which, frankly, he had little direct involvement in, then he must also be held accountable for our failures. The facts paint a troubling picture. Despite the mayor's repeated assurances that our streets are safe, we've witnessed a disturbing rise in assaults, shootings, and vandalism. His promises have fallen by the wayside: the foot patrol we were promised never materialized, nor did the bike patrol that was supposed to increase our sense of security. Fiscally, the situation is equally dire. Taxes have increased at least twice during Mayor Lutz's tenure, yet the borough now finds itself millions of dollars in debt. This isn...
Read more