Resignations
Columbia Borough Council accepted the resignation of Jay Frerichs and Jeanne Lehmann. Frerichs was hired as a property inspector last November. Lehmann was vice-chair of the Historic Architectural Review Board.
Walnut Street Improvements
Council authorized the borough engineer to advertise for public bids for road improvements to the 700 and 800 blocks of Walnut Street, pending solicitor approval. The bid includes an inspector as part of the process. Previously, residents told council that there were problems with last year's improvements to the 500 and 600 blocks of Walnut.
Citizen Comments:
Heather Zink said that tree grates on several blocks of Locust Street are becoming tripping hazards. Council President Kelly Murphy said the road crew will address the issue.
Tree grate on the 300 block of Locust
Zink also questioned the need to pay an outside contractor (Tom Jones Landscaping) to mow at the Veterans Memorial Bridge Plaza. She noted that workers should be available to mow, since several were transferred from the sewer plant when LASA took over the operation.
The two photos above were taken Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at the bridge plaza.
Councilman Cleon Berntheizel replied that the contractor continues to install commemorative bricks at the plaza at no cost. Berntheizel added that since the area is a memorial, it should be kept "as perfect as possible." He added that borough properties are frequently mowed "very quickly" and workers don't always pick up the clippings. Berntheizel said that the contractor also does weeding in the spring. Murphy added that this is the time of year when other projects are kicking into place for the highway department.
[A current Highway Department employee, Jim Jones, is a landscaper who has done several projects in the borough. Directing him to maintain the bridge plaza could eliminate the need for an outside contractor, thus saving money for the borough]
Jim Jones, already on the Highway Department, is also a landscaper who has done several projects in the borough, including this one (shown above) at Zion Hill Cemetery in 2016.
Frank Doutrich asked how much money was put into escrow by contractor Eberly Myers LLC for the large "hole in the ground" at the bottom of Locust Street where a house was demolished to make way for an apartment building project. (
Columbia Spy reported on the project
HERE and
HERE.) The project has thus far not materialized. Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger said that it was her understanding that they had a six-month time frame to complete what was required in their permit, including demolition and foundation work. She added that the company needs to raise more capital for the project.
The "hole in the ground" at the bottom of Locust Street, where a house was demolished to make way for an apartment building. The project is currently on hold.
