Environmental workers and Coast Guard stage at Columbia River Park in response to recent oil spill

Workers from Lewis Environmental unloaded oil containment booms on the boat ramp at Columbia River Park this morning as part of an operation there.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Workers from Lewis Environmental and a member of the US Coast Guard were at Columbia River Park this morning, with several trucks, boats and oil containment booms in tow. When questioned, one of the personnel stated they were there in relation to a recent spill on the York County side of the Susquehanna River.

According to LNP/LancasterOnline, federal, state and local agencies are undertaking clean-up operations after a February 25 fire at J&K Salvage released thousands of gallons of oils from containers into Codorus Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna. The oils have seeped into the Susquehanna watershed, according to officials. Members of the response team are testing water samples from the river near Columbia and Wrightsville.

Set clocks ahead one hour this weekend

 

Don't forget to set clocks ahead one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Disgusting! Dog poop problem on Walnut Street

Disgusting! The sidewalk on the 100 block of Walnut Street is full of "land mines" on the north side.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At last night's Columbia Borough Council Workshop, a resident complained about an ongoing dog poop problem on the 100 block of Walnut Street. A large dog has been defecating on several areas of the sidewalk for the last few weeks, leaving what the resident called "land mines." 

Dog owners in the borough are required to clean up after their dogs and must carry a plastic bag that's required to be shown if police ask to see it. Violators can be fined.

According to borough ordinance:

"No person shall allow any animal owned by him under his control to defecate on any sidewalk, walkway, or the property of another without immediately cleaning it up."

However:

 

"Any vision- or mobility-impaired person who relies upon a dog specifically trained for such purposes shall be exempt from compliance with this section."

UPDATE: "Abandoned" boat at Columbia River Park

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

The PA Fish & Boat Commission said it is aware of the apparently abandoned boat at Columbia River Park. According to a representative during a phone call this morning, the commission is working with the owner to address the issue. The boat has been tied along shore for over two weeks and has a Maryland registration with 2023 tags.

Street sweeping to resume March 16, 2026

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Street sweeping will resume March 16, 2026, according to an announcement at the March 3 Columbia Borough Council Workshop. 

Columbia Borough to sell former wastewater treatment plant for $565,000

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

After a several years of delays, Columbia Borough is finally taking measures to unload its former wastewater treatment plant. 

At the February 24 Columbia Borough Council meeting, council unanimously approved an agreement of sale of the plant at 430 South Front Street with the Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) for $565,000. The plan is for the CEDC to market and sell the property so that a buyer can improve it and return it to the tax rolls.

Pennsylvania law allows boroughs to conduct such transactions with economic development corporations for selling specialized properties such as wastewater facilities.

The CEDC will earn a 1% commission on the purchase price for facilitating the sale and will be allowed to recover marketing and broker costs from the borough's proceeds. 

During the council meeting, members noted that Exhibit A and Exhibit B — containing the legal property description and the lease — were missing from their packets. Evan Gabel, borough solicitor, told council that the exhibits would be included in the final agreement before closing, scheduled on or before March 31. Council also noted that the agreement document incorrectly stated the borough's address as 1200 Corporate Boulevard. Gabel said the address will be corrected to 308 Locust Street. 

The backstory 

Columbia Borough sold its wastewater conveyance system to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA) in 2015 and shut down operation of its 1952-era treatment plant in order to avoid costly upgrades required by law. LASA now assumes sewage operations in the borough.

In November 2021, Columbia Borough entered into a lease-to-own agreement with JG Environmental, a waste services company. (Shamrock Environmental acquired the company in February 2024.) JG Environmental/Shamrock  is currently subleasing at least part of the property to another entity. 

Part of the delay in the sale of the plant was due to a holdup by Norfolk Southern in allowing changes to the railroad crossing near the site. Apparently, that issue has been resolved, but it's still unclear whether JG Environmental will proceed with the purchase. (Some details mentioned during council's discussion were sketchy, at best.)

As part the deal, the company had aimed to acquire an additional riverfront property where borough maintenance vehicles and other equipment are currently stored. The plan was for the borough to move those assets to a recently acquired property at 11th Street and Ridge Avenue to facilitate the sale. However, that plan has been delayed, because a building at the site needs extensive repairs — or a new one may need to be built — with either option potentially costing several million dollars. 

Lancaster County police investigate shots-fired incident

https://www.wgal.com/article/lancaster-county-police-respond-shots-fired-incident/70580611 

Agenda — Columbia Borough Council Workshop — March 3, 2026

The meeting packet is HERE.

Deeds Recorded — Columbia Borough — March 2, 2026

The estate of Thomas Lawson III conveyed 1111 Locust St. to Megan Seibert for $500,000.

About Town — March 1, 2026

This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

This boat has been moored at Columbia River Park for at least the last two weeks. It has Maryland tags and appears to be abandoned. 

*****************

The predicted snowstorm never arrived, but we did get about two inches of snow.

*****************

A dense fog came rolling in on Friday morning. 

*****************

The evening before, these clouds appeared. 

*****************

Railroad cars were being pulled by this contraption. (Last week, rail workers used a truck on the tracks to transport the cars).

Another vehicle on the end served as a caboose. 

Pedestrians had to wait a few minutes to cross.

What's left of a tree washed up on shore recently. 

The Old Columbia Public Grounds Co. "River Park"

Ex-ambulance, still running 

It hasn't flatlined yet.

*****************

The above two photos show the aftermath of a trash pickup. The area was clean, but after pickup, items were left on the curb and in the gutter, due to the hauler turning the receptacle upside down. Should the borough be concerned?

[Photos: Bull Warfel]

Flags in distress 

Got one!

Grecian urn

Some guy wrote a poem about one, right HERE.

###

Poetry Buzz: A Columbia couple builds art, community through the power of verse - TheBurg

https://theburgnews.com/culture/poetry-buzz-a-columbia-couple-builds-art-community-through-the-power-of-verse 

Restaurant Inspections – Columbia Borough – February 27, 2026

King's Butcher Shop, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, Feb. 21. Pass. Prepackaged ground beef from the facility's other retail store is not labeled properly with a distributed-by statement. A working container of sanitizer was stored with bagged pretzels.

King's Country Flavorites, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, Feb. 21. Pass. Observed employee rinsing out a flowerpot in the designated hand-wash sink.

Li'l Stacks Pa, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, Feb. 21. Pass. Food employee (owner) observed preparing food and not wearing a beard cover. The hand-wash sink does not have water at a temperature of at least 85 F. The fuse for the hot-water heater had blown; fuse was replaced and hot water was restored.

Columbia Presbyterian Celebration, 360 Locust St., Columbia, complaint, Feb. 18. Pass. No violations.

Park Elementary School, 50 S. Sixth St., Columbia, Feb. 18. Pass. No violations.

Columbia High School, 901 Ironville Pike, Columbia, Feb. 17. Pass. No violations.

Taylor Middle School, 45 N. Ninth St., Columbia, Feb. 17. Pass. No violations.

Smoke N Chill, 353 Cherry St., Columbia, Feb. 17. Pass. New food facility in operation more than 90 days and has not employed a certified food employee as required. The food facility does not maintain Food Employee Certification records as required. Plumbing system not maintained in good repair: observed water leaking at the drainpipe of the hand-wash sink and the three-compartment sink.

Local business owner questions council about controversial email

Jesse Sweigart addressed council Tuesday night about allegations in an email sent to borough officials. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

An email sent to borough officials and others in recent weeks is raising questions about alleged misconduct, internal conflicts, and lack of transparency in Columbia Borough government.

Jesse Sweigart, local business owner and administrator of columbiapa.online, says that the email, which references incidents involving borough officials between 2024 and 2025, contains allegations  that point to ethical issues in the borough. He says officials have stayed silent despite being aware of the email, and asked for them to take action. 

Sweigart read from a prepared statement when he addressed council at the February 24, 2026 Columbia Borough Council meeting.  

"Why has nobody publicly addressed or called for an investigation into the troubling email that every news organization and several elected officials have already received?" Sweigart asked. "The public is aware that something is wrong. The silence only makes it worse."

Sweigart said the email contains "graphic and disturbing" allegations about inappropriate images sent on borough-issued devices. He said the email also mentions missing records and internal pressure on employees. He asked for council's acknowledgment that the email exists, as well as for an independent review. He noted, however, that none of the allegations have been verified. 

"No one is asking this council to declare guilt," Sweigart continued. "What the community is asking is for acknowledgement, transparency and a commitment to due process." He said that if the allegations are false, council's admission would clear the air. "Why hasn't anyone suggested even a preliminary inquiry? If the allegations are false, then why not say so we can clear the air?" 

"I urge this council to acknowledge the existence of this email and concerning nature, because I spoke to a few of you, and we know it exists," Sweigart said.

Zink: "You're demanding we tell you things...that we're legally not allowed to discuss."

Ultimately, officials ignored Sweigart's concerns. Heather Zink, council vice president, reacted defensively. "You all act like you're calling for investigation and this and that. How do you know we haven't already done anything—because we haven't told you?" Zink asked. "You said you're not demanding action, but yet you are demanding action." Zink said council cannot legally discuss the issues, because they're personnel matters. 

Evan Gabel, borough solicitor, agreed, saying the borough cannot and will not comment on personnel matters. 

Wrightsville Fire Department Issues Statement Regarding Member's Arrest