Study: Thousands of Lancaster County children eligible for free preschool aren't getting it

In Columbia Borough School District, only 56 percent of preschoolers who qualified for high-quality publicly funded preschool received it, the report said.

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http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/study-thousands-of-lancaster-county-children-eligible-for-free-preschool/article_8db9a096-c254-11e6-aae2-a7ff247695b0.html

Snowflakes and a trolley are in Columbia's future - for a price

New borough Christmas lights were the topic at the Community Development meeting December 15, 2016.  

Cleon Berntheizel presented information regarding the lights and pricing.  He said that the 36 snowflake lights the borough already owns cannot be supported by the newer light posts.  Berntheizel presented sale prices that will expire on the last day of February 2017.  The cost to purchase 37 new snowflake lights is listed at $9,693.00 with shipping to be added.  

Rather than keep the old lights in storage, Berntheizel suggested placing them on business buildings such as the market house or Hinkle's Pharmacy. Mayor Lutz said that not all businesses may want to put holes in their buildings in order to display the snowflake lights.  He also mentioned that a box would need to be installed for electricity to operate the lights.  This was followed by some discussion about the cost of the borough's annual electric bill.

Mayor Lutz did express interest in having some of the lights at River Park.  

The new snowflake light purchase will go to full council at the January 9 meeting.

The trolley purchase was also brought up, albeit briefly.  Greg Sahd said that it will not be ready for purchase until January 2, 2017.  However he would like the borough to be able to take possession of it before the end of this year and have it included in the 2016 budget.  

There are decals that have to be removed prior to purchase.  Greg Sahd suggested that Cleon Bernthiezel get in touch with Elite Coach to see if possession could possibly take place sooner.

Rebecca Denlinger was not present.  Councillors Cleon Berntheizel, John Novak and Sherry Welsh were present along with Greg Sahd and Mayor Leo Lutz.  

On The Mid-Year State Budget Briefing: The Full Picture Is Even More Grim

The long term budget problem is not something that just happened. It was created by reductions in corporate taxes that were not made up by other revenues.

MORE:

https://thirdandstate.org/2016/december/mid-year-budget-briefing-full-picture-even-more-grim

Police seek Turkey Hill robber in Columbia

An unidentified man made off with approximately $230 after robbing a convenience store in Columbia on Tuesday.

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http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/police-seek-turkey-hill-robber-in-columbia/article_b0ce3f52-c221-11e6-a2b1-1bdf55874d7a.html

Tax notice - How to pay

NOTICE:  IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY PAID YOUR COUNTY/MUNICIPAL TAXES The 2016 Municipal/County Tax Bills may be paid at the Borough Office located at 308 Locust Street  during regular business hours. All taxes paid after December 15, 2016 must be by certified check, money order or cash. By Mail 1. Please use the bill stub and envelope included with your bill. If no stub is available, mail to:    Columbia Borough  Tax Collections, 308 Locust St, Columbia, PA 17512 2.   When taxes are paid by mail, the US postmark will be considered the date paid – NO EXCEPTIONS . Letters mailed at some locations may not be postmarked until the following day, so please exercise caution when meeting this deadline. 3. If you pay by mail and a receipt is required, please include both portions of the tax bill with your payment and a self-addressed, stamped envelope; otherwise only one copy of the bill is required with payment. In Person 1. Original bill stub or photocopy will be accepted at our office. 2. If a receipt is desired, please take the entire bill and request that the top portion be stamped as paid. 3. If a photocopy is required to either pay your bill or if you would like a photocopy of your bill there will be a charge of $0.25 per

Borough Offices: 308 Locust Street, Columbia PA 17512 | Phone: 717-684-2467

Night Lights

Columbia buys a trolley

Borough council voted to buy a trolley Monday night. The trolley will be provided by Elite Coach of Ephrata for $39,900. (Voting was unanimous among the five councillors present. Sherry Welsh was absent, and Stephanie Weisser has rendered her resignation, effective December 1.)

The trolley is a 1993 model with 53,000 miles and was used previously by the borough during the Columbia lantern tour.  Public Works Director Ron Miller took a test drive/ride for several miles recently and described the vehicle's engine and transmission as "excellent" and presented council with an extensive written report. He called the venture "not a frivolous investment whatsoever." The trolley is air-conditioned and comes with a lifetime supply of vehicle filters. Councillor John Novak said the same trolley in today's dollars would cost $200,000-250,000 new.

Council had originally planned to employ the services of Rivertowne Trolley Company again in 2017 until a sudden opportunity surfaced to buy its own trolley. The issue normally would have gone through committee before being presented to council, but councillors felt the matter warranted quick action due to other parties interested in acquiring the vehicle. Columbia paid $30,600 last year to rent Rivertowne's trolley.

Councillor Cleon Berntheizel said, "I look at this as an investment in the borough."