Kleen-Rite president wants to preserve part of the Columbia Borough Farm

Mike McKonly (above) wants to buy a 26-acre parcel on the borough farm to put into agricultural preservation.

Mike McKonly wants to buy 26 acres of land from Columbia Borough. McKonly, president of Kleen-Rite Corporation, floated the offer at the March 14 Columbia Borough Council meeting, telling council he wants to add the east side portion of the borough farm to his adjacent farmland. The borough farm is located along Blue Lane and mulching and other operations are done on the west side of the farm.

McKonly explained that he wants to buy the land for his animals and that it will be put into agricultural preservation, adding that his existing 30 acres are already preserved.

McKonly said he had discussed the potential purchase with Mayor Leo Lutz and Borough Manager Mark Stivers and was told by Stivers to bring the offer forth to council. No price was discussed at the meeting, and no vote was taken on the offer.