Couple blames borough for flooding on their property

Lindsey Brenner tells council Monday night that a drainage problem at her 1020 Cloverton Drive property is the the borough's responsibility.

A Columbia couple angrily confronted borough council Monday night over an ongoing dispute about a retention basin on their property. At issue is who is responsible to fix a drainage problem with the basin. The couple, Tim Hess and Lindsey Brenner, claim stormwater often floods their 1020 Cloverton Drive property due to an improperly placed drain pipe. They believe responsibility lies with the borough to fix the problem.

Armed with documentation and photographs, Hess and Brenner said that despite appearing at three council meetings over the last four months, they have not had their concerns addressed. "I want to ask you, if this was in your backyard, if you would be okay with it, because you wouldn't," Brenner told council.

Hess said he cannot address the problem himself, because part of the pipe is under the state's jurisdiction. He said that if he would attempt a fix, he would get fined, because the pipe "goes into PennDOT."

"How do you want me to fix a borough and state issue?" Hess asked council. He also said that a retention basin should be able to be mowed, noting that six- to seven-foot cattails are growing in the basin.

Council President Kelly Murphy explained that the borough is not responsible for maintaining the basin. He suggested their attorney contact the borough solicitor. Brenner asked why they should have to spend $3,000 to hire an attorney to have the borough fix a pipe.

Brenner said a letter she received from Public Works Director Ron Miller acknowledges a problem with the basin, specifically a water problem on the surface and a drainage problem. The couple said the borough's engineer told them that no record exists of "how the basin is supposed to be."

Lindsey Brenner, with husband Tim Hess, shows a document to council supporting her claim of responsibility.

Brenner cited a document from the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds stating the problem is the borough's, because the pipe and the drainage are specific to Columbia Borough. Brenner said information on the street's dedication is somewhere in borough meeting minutes from that date.

Brenner argued that a legal binding document was filed with the county when the signed the deed for the property. Borough Manager Greg Sahd, however, pointed out that the document was not signed by the borough. Borough Solicitor Robert Pfannebecker agreed with Sahd, saying that somebody else put that language in the deed, which the borough did not agree to.

"It's a legal argument that should be resolved by your attorney talking to us." Pfannebecker said.

Lindsey Brenner chides council about 

having to hire an attorney 

to fix a drainage problem on her property.

More information on this issue, including a video of the affected area, can be found at Columbia news, views & reviews HERE.

Two trees vandalized - one by dog, one by person

Incident #1:

The tree shown below was damaged sometime within the last 24 hours on the 400 block of Locust Street. A witness, who was sweeping up the sidewalk, said a dog clawed and gnawed at the tree bark, causing the damage. The photos below show scratch marks and torn bark on the tree, and shavings of bark lying in the mulch. According to the witness, the dog was not tied to the tree. The animal reportedly belongs to new tenants in one of the apartments in the neighborhood.

Incident #2:
The photos below show a broken tree in Locust Street Park. According to Facebook comments, the tree was probably damaged over the weekend. The close-up photos (#2 and 3) show that the tree was broken and then twisted, suggesting that it was intentionally damaged.

Music and movie in the park this coming Friday

Can you ID this woman wanted for retail theft at Bootleg Antiques?

Draft Agenda - Borough Council Meeting, August 14, 2017

Library happenings this week

About Town

Recent pics from around our fair borough . . .

Just married!

However, this isn't the proper way to enter a bridal suite.

Meanwhile, at Columbia River Park . . .

Busted!

The lamppost, that is.

Looks like someone backed into it with a vehicle.

There's the shards of a broken taillight.

And there's a dent.

And there's a broken fixture.

Alas

"Columbia rossing"

Can you "C" it?

Taking pride - 

Well, someone's gotta do it.

Winged head at 8th & Walnut

Beating the heat

Here a weed, there a weed, everywhere a weed weed.

You don't see many of these nowadays.

Sculpture at Burning Bridge

Working on the Front Street storage units.

Second floor, going up.

Why park in a space when there's a perfectly good street there?

On the lookout

A favorite symbol of American Nazis

300 block of Locust, Saturday morning, 5 o'clock

Stand up for what you believe in,

or just because you feel like it.

Guess this doesn't get used often.

Newfangled trash receptacle?

Q: Why does he do that?

A: Because he can.

Sooty water at Front & Walnut.

Thanks, Eastern Drillers!

Hood ornament on hood

The document says that the real estate agent listed is responsible for the management of the property.

Is the property being managed?

Is it?

Mayfly invasion on the 200 block of Locust!

Another ghost sign (200 block of Locust)

There's a shadow of the word "FURNITURE" along the bottom (right about "254").

The rest is illegible.

Grinch on vacation at Tacos to Go

Does this conform to HARB rules?

Yes, keep that door closed, like the sign says.

And fix that broken window!

Creepy Ronald beckons you to the bath.

Unlawful structure at 134 North 3rd is being renovated.

The backstory is HERE.

Yeah, Tollbooth, No Parking!

So, if someone removes that padlock . . .

Poplar Street School Center for the Arts

Someone might want to apply their artistic talents to this sign.

How many people live here?

4th & Cherry becoming ADA-compliant

Attractive property on the 300 block of Cherry

This is what can be done . . .

When people care.

There's one of those dad-blasted gas fixtures. A tripping hazard for sure.

Bumblebees have take over for the missing honeybees.

Cross traffic does not stop.

True. It doesn't even slow down.

It's listing a bit.

That's what they're doing.

Council should make this the borough's official tree by virtue of its ubiquity.

Five feral felines...

in Avenue F.

That so works!

Columbia cowgirl

Heron heading homeward