BEWARE OF PHONE SCAM - DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Several people have received calls today (12/30/20) from a woman claiming to be from "PPL." The caller states, "your account reflects a disconnection order taking place today for non-payment history." The caller (from 717-431-5989) then gives an option to be connected to a billing department.

PPL has verified to Columbia Spy that the calls did not originate from them and that they are investigating the issue as a scam. Comments regarding the calls (https://who-called.us/Number/1-717-431-5989) are shown below:

Council passes 2021 budget with no tax increase; officials warn about Covid

Takeaways from council's last meeting of 2020:

[An interruption of the Facebook livestream halted the public's ability to view the Columbia Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, but an archived version was posted on the borough's Facebook page on December 24.]

The 2021 budget

Council voted 6-1 to adopt the 2021 budget, projected to be $6.87 million.The municipal millage rate will remain at 8 mills, but only because over half a million dollars was pulled from reserves. Councilman Howard Stevens was the no vote.

(The municipal millage rate has fluctuated over the past five years. In November 2015, council shot down an opportunity to reduce millage a quarter of a mill, from 8 mills to 7.75. Council had discussed lowering the rate but ultimately voted 4-3 to keep it at 8 mills. In 2017, the rate dropped to 6.6 mills for the following year. The decrease was due to the 2017 reassessment in which the rate decreased in proportion to an increase in taxable assessment. At the end of 2018, council voted to increase millage 21.2% to 8 mills, where it remains today. Current councillors Todd Burgard, Fran FitzGerald, and Pam Williams were on council at the time and voted for the tax hike.)

At last week's meeting, finance manager Kyle Watts was asked if he sees Columbia ever being in a position again to lower the millage. Watts gave a brief scenario of possibilities and said that's the direction we want to go.

Covid
Mayor Leo Lutz and Police Chief Jack Brommer reminded residents to take precautions in regard to Covid. Brommer said the borough has received notification of an increasing number of Covid cases.

The municipal bond

Council voted to refinance the borough's municipal bond, potentially saving taxpayers a significant amount of money in the end (the end being 2038). However, before those savings are realized, annual payments over the next few years will actually be higher, meaning taxpayers must come up with thousands more each year to make the payments. Keep in mind that the borough already borrowed from reserves this year to avoid a tax increase.

Dumpsters
Regarding the dumpster fee of $10/day, councilwoman Sharon Lintner asked how long dumpsters can remain on borough streets taking up parking spaces. Currently, there is no set time frame, but as a result of discussion, a change will be made in the application process - possibly a requirement to renew weekly - but no change in the daily fee.

Tree lights

Taxpayers were charged $1,000 to hang the Christmas tree lights in Locust Street Park this year. This has been an annual charge since 2019. Borough manager Mark Stivers said there is another fee for taking them down in the spring but did not specify an amount. Fees apparently include lift rental. Arnold's Property Services, an out-of-town outfit, has been providing the service. Previously, the fire company hung the lights every year, but in 2019, council chose to pay Arnold's to do it instead. (Taxpayers paid several thousand dollars for new lights in 2018.) Lintner suggested keeping the money local, if possible.

The fire company hanging lights 

at Locust Street Park in 2018.

COLUMBIA'S BLACK OLIVE IS AMONG THE RESTAURANTS HURTING FROM THE SHUTDOWN

"We don't want to lose our business license. Plus, we're a new business here," said Michael Sivri, one of the owners of Black Olive Family Diner in Columbia, who just helped reopen Ephrata's Cloister Restaurant in November.

Sivri said he considered the possibly of staying open and was encouraged to do so by some customers. But he ultimately decided to close, lay off his roughly 40 employees, and maintain some kind of presence by offering takeout even though it barely makes any money

He says he just hopes the lockdown really does end Jan. 4.

"Three weeks is not going to hurt us, but I hope he's not going to expand it," he said.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/restaurant-owners-workers-struggle-with-shutdown-during-normally-busy-holidays-its-painful/article_64930ec6-4600-11eb-b83f-ff34142c2836.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

LETTER WRITER SAYS COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LANCASTER CITY WERE BILKED $1.5 MILLION DUE TO STATE'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA

https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/equality-equity-for-at-risk-students-letter/article_cac483a0-4484-11eb-8cf9-5701f42522a9.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

WHERE TO RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

Columbia Fire Company at 10th and Manor Streets - or the Columbia Borough Yard Waste Center on Blue Lane from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 9.

DEEDS RECORDED - COLUMBIA BOROUGH - DECEMBER 28, 2020

Benjamin G. Sauder and Joslyn Sauder conveyed property on a public road to Awakened Properties LLC for $83,500.

Ranae J. Tibbens conveyed property on a public road to Archduke Investments LLC for $77,500.

Stephanie F. Hallett conveyed property on Walnut Street to John Joseph Sicotte for $120,000.

AJ Home Solutions LLC and Andrew Fry conveyed 243 N. Fourth St. to Owl Bridge Properties LLC for $115,000.

Heidi A. Stewart and Meg Seibert conveyed property on North Third Street to Thomas R. Preston and Nichole A. Preston for $110,500.

About Town 12/27/20

 This week's photos of Columbia

(The last photos of the year)

This Charlie Brown tree(?) was spotted recently on 18th Street.

Last week's thawing snow and Thursday's heavy rains combined to cause flooding and raise water levels on the river this weekend:

Water levels "hovered" around 234 at Columbia River Park, which is 7 feet above normal.

The water even reached the top of the boat ramp.

Here are four from Todd Stahl:

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A few traces of the holiday season remain:

Route 462 & Cherry Street

South 5th & Cherry

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New ride in town

Mounting the sign at the Market House

The finished product

A closer look

The projected schedule

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Snow cleanup around town:

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Dumpster Street

Stuffed in the back

Get yours here.

Watch your step - all of them.

Checking the traffic controls at Front & Walnut

Icicles up at the tunnel (along the trail) 

Photo by Michelle Masch

A hazy shade of winter

A few from up the river by Todd Stahl:

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Free stuff

Choose your healing: the spiritual or the commercial.

(Or both)

Hornet's nest (presumably abandoned) at Mount Bethel Cemetery

YOUR SPEED

Columbia Borough Offices Closed 12/24 & 12/25

 

Columbia Market House gets new sign

Workers from East Coast Contracting spent several hours on Tuesday installing a new sign at the Columbia Market House. The sign, which was mounted on the Third Street side, is part of a $2 million renovation of the historic structure. The building is scheduled to open officially some time in the spring of 2021.