Talks continue on possible LASA deal

Currently, most Columbia residents and businesses pay higher rates than LASA charges — approximately $42 a month verses $81.99 a quarter. But 38 percent of the customers pay the minimum flat fee of $19.44 per month.

Many of the residents in Columbia who pay the minimum flat fee are elderly, Norm Meiskey said, and it's a "major concern" to keep rates equitable.

Kyle said that changes to rates would "ramp up slowly" and could take five or 10 years.

The three main parties — borough council, the municipal authority and LASA — agreed to come with individual goals and objectives. A work group involving LASA and borough employees will share information about current facilities, rates and business practices.

If a deal is reached and the sale moves forward, it would take two to two-and-a-half years to fully implement.

More HERE

Columbia Water Company seeks rate hike

The Columbia Water Company is asking the state to approve a $773,210 rate increase for its Columbia Division.

The proposal filed Thursday with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission would raise rates for various categories of customers between 21.06 and 21.11 percent.

The additional revenue would be used to cover growing operating expenses and service costs, including recovery of about $4.3 million in capital improvements to the Columbia Division water system.

The proposal would not affect customers in the company's Marietta Division, which is made up of Marietta Borough and East Donegal Township in Lancaster County and Hellam Township in York County.

The increase is proposed to take effect June 24.

MORE HERE:

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/842604_Columbia-Water-Company-seeks-rate-hike.html

Susquehanna River's poor health is killing smallmouth bass

LANCASTERONLINE

The collapse of the smallmouth bass fishery on the lower Susquehanna River may be the "canary in the coal mine," presaging future health problems to more fish and animals in the river, as well as devastating a recreational economy, a new report says.

Since 2005, 80 percent of the bass have disappeared between Sunbury and the Conowingo Dam. Fingerling bass are dying, ugly lesions and splotches are appearing on adults and eggs are showing up in the testes of male fish.

The cause: A "perfect storm" of high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, rising water temperatures believed to be at least partly due to global warming and a mix of chemicals from sewage plants, says the report, released Thursday by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

MORE HERE:

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/842213_Susquehanna-River-s-poor-health-is-killing-smallmouth-bass.html

Exhibit To Offer Perspectives On Local History

Thanks to a collaboration between the Mount Bethel Cemetery Company and the Columbia Public Library, assorted artwork by Gardiner Criswell will be on display at the cemetery during set hours on April 26 and April 28.  Approximately 15 to 20 of Criswell's works, including oil paintings and sketches, will be set up inside the house located on the cemetery grounds at 700 Locust St., Columbia, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Fourth Friday, April 26, and from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. Refreshments will be available. There is no cost to view the exhibit, but donations will be accepted.

MORE HERE:
http://news.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=84444

DA seeks death penalty in Columbia fatal shooting

WGAL
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. -
The Lancaster County District Attorney is seeking the death penalty against Mario Casanova-Lanzo, 36, who is charged in a Columbia fatal shooting.

He pleaded not guilty.

In February, Casanova-Lanzo broke into his estranged wife's home on North Third Street and shot Parrish Thaxton several times, police said.

http://m.wgal.com/news/da-seeks-death-penalty-in-columbia-fatal-shooting/-/17430522/19888586/-/10phqftz/-/index.html

Columbia Wastewater - Special Meeting - April 25

Columbia Borough and its municipal authority will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, to discuss a possible deal with the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority to purchase Columbia's wastewater treatment system or have LASA provide services to the borough.
The borough is required to find a solution to comply with clean water regulations mandated by the state Department of Environmental Resources.
The public meeting will be held at the borough hall, 308 Locust St.

Quality of life to be addressed at April 30 town meeting in Columbia

LANCASTERONLINE
Columbia Borough will host a town meeting on quality of life issues at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 30, at the Columbia Borough School District Administrative Building, 5th and Chestnut streets.

The meeting will be hosted by Mayor Leo Lutz and Columbia Borough Police Department Chief Jack Brommer.

Ray D'Agostino and Jim Shultz from Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership will be on hand to discuss programs that may benefit Columbia property owners, including rental and owner-occupied properties.

The borough says it intends to have a discussion about things it and school district are planning as well as what residents and business owners would like to see happen in Columbia.

For questions, call Mayor Lutz at 684-7841 or Chief Brommer at 684-7735.

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/841593_Quality-of-life-to-be-addressed-at-April-30-town-meeting-in-Columbia.html