Borough looks at two sites for possible office relocation

Borough officials claim that the borough has outgrown its current headquarters at 308 Locust Street and operations are being hampered due to lack of space.  Two other locations are currently being considered that will allow for expansion: 200 North 5th Street and 430 Walnut Street. 

200 North 5th Street

Columbia Borough Council recently voted to commission a $12,900 feasibility study to determine the specifics of relocating the borough offices and police station. RLPS Architects, a Lancaster firm, has been tapped to undertake the study. In a proposal letter to the borough dated October 16, 2017, the company states that it will provide "professional services as indicated for a lump sum fee of $12,900 plus reimbursable expenses." The letter also states that RLPS has obtained floor plans of 200 North 5th Street and is working to obtain those of 430 Walnut. If those are not available, the firm says it will digitally scan the property for an additional $2,000 in order to prepare floor plans. Hazardous materials analysis, abatement and costing is not included.

430 Walnut Street

200 North 5th Street is currently the Columbia Borough School District Administration Center, and 430 Walnut Street, formerly home to the Lucas Manufacturing Company, is now owned by Columbia developer Don Murphy.

The borough has considered the possibility of a move for several months. A public meeting was held June 14, 2017 at Borough Hall to discuss the feasibility of consolidating the borough offices, police department and school district offices in one building - the District Administration Center - as a Columbia Borough Government Center.  The DAC now houses only school district employees and operations.

At the meeting, Mayor Leo Lutz said there is not enough room for borough operations at the municipal building. "We're constantly juggling things around," he said. Lutz said the records room was outgrown 16 years ago and now contains two offices out of necessity.

Councillor Mary Wickenheiser said the borough needs extra space due to added services: codes, clerks, etc. "There are more people working in this building," she said. Codes manager Steve Kaufhold said his department needs more space, because the borough is no longer using third-party inspectors. He said seven codes employees are now using a 12 x 12 area.

Council president Kelly Murphy said, "We're upping our game, especially with codes. We've got the whole building crammed to the max." He noted that moving to the DAC is just an option. "This is the first discussion," Murphy said. "We're looking at options." He said the borough is looking for "the most bang for the buck" and that other sites will also be considered. There is no deadline for a move yet, he said. Murphy added that if either entity (borough or school district) says no to the idea, there will not be any animosity.

Moving to the former Columbia No. 1 Fire Company building on Front Street was discussed but ultimately frowned upon due to the nearby rail lines with trains that could hinder police response time. A resident expressed disapproval about the possibility of having holding cells in the DAC. Lutz said the police department does not need to be in the same building as the borough offices.

Parking concerns for additional personnel at the DAC were discussed. Lutz asked if the borough could lease parking spaces from the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, whose building is nearby.

Lutz also said another advantage to consolidating is financial. "What can we do to help the taxpayer?" he asked. He said the project won't move forward without a funding scheme.

Don  Murphy said he is open to a move to his Walnut Street building. "I welcome the opportunity to work with the borough on the possibility of relocating to my location as I feel it would better suit their long-term needs for police, codes, and municipal government," he said in a statement provided to Columbia Spy today. 

[Information from a June 19, 2017 Columbia Spy post was incorporated into this article.]

Columbia Crossing to be closed temporarily

Columbia Market House closing Dec 23; bids to be taken for new use for circa-1869 market building

The Columbia Market House will close Dec. 23 as the borough tries to find a new use for the circa-1869 building in the center of town.

Columbia Borough, which owns the building at 15 S. 3rd St., has been operating the three-days-a-week market there but will now be soliciting bids from developers to lease the property and possibly do something else with it.

MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/insider/columbia-market-house-closing-dec-bids-to-be-taken-for/article_7b4d00ca-ca4f-11e7-98c1-a79f4333a894.html

Correction to Parking Ticket and Quick Ticket Payment Policy

Columbia Spy received this updated information from Columbia Borough:

Effective December 1, 2017

CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS NOTICE

Parking Tickets and Quick Tickets will no longer be accepted at the window at the Borough Office located at 308 Locust Street, Columbia Pa. All tickets must be mailed or put in the drop box located outside the Borough Office to the right of the entrance door.

Should you wish to contest a parking ticket, wait for a citation in the mail, then you may plead not guilty and request a hearing at the Magisterial District Judge's Office.

Should you wish to contest a quick ticket, submit your request in writing to the Borough Manager along with the required $100 appeal fee within 15 days of ticket date.

Draft Agenda - Columbia School Board Meeting November 16, 2017

The Murphys complete purchase of Hinkle's building in Columbia, eye doubling restaurant

Following their $770,000 purchase, Don and Becky Murphy are turning their attention to expanding the restaurant as well as reopening and enlarging the Hinkle's gift shop.

MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/insider/buyers-complete-purchase-of-hinkle-s-building-in-columbia-eye/article_205196d8-c96c-11e7-abb7-7b550442f904.html

Quick takeaways from Monday night's borough council meeting

Mayor Lutz said the $55 million Veterans Memorial Bridge restoration/rehabilitation project is on track for 2019. Designated bicycle lanes will be added to both sides due to an increase in bike traffic from riders using the bridge to "join" the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail with the Mason Dixon Trail.

Council voted 6-1 to provide funding in the amount of $70,000 to the Land Bank to assist "Brookline Builders" with necessary improvements that will make 208-210 Locust Street usable as a commercial space.  Brookline's sister company, a limestone/masonry enterprise, is planning a showroom at this property. (Columbia Spy has reported extensively on this property. Search "208-210" on this site.)

A resident questioning the "Street-Scape" program asked why simple fixes like the torn awning at Hotel Locust have been let go for so long.  Councilor Marilyn Kress Hartman said the awning will be repaired in about a week.

Resident Rick Fisher informed council of several criminal incidents that were reported to him, some of which were not reported to the police.  Fisher and Mayor Lutz encouraged residents to call police if they have information about any criminal incident. Fisher is the organizer of the Columbia PA Crime Watch group.

Fisher asked if he could get a list of camera locations in the borough, and the mayor replied, "No."  Later in the meeting, the mayor said the borough has "exactly 50 cameras" but "there is no list." According to him, if the borough had a list of cameras, it would be considered public property and would have to be made available through "Right-to-Know."  He said the borough does not have to create a list just to satisfy such a request.  He also said no list exists because of covert cameras being used in investigations.

There was some confusion about how many cameras are located in Columbia River Park.  Columbia Spy has counted five, excluding any possible "covert" cameras. The Columbia Water Company, adjacent to the park, has additional cameras on its building's exterior.

Despite a police "Crime Watch" report stating that the victims of a recent robbery/assault claim a gun was used against them, the mayor stated that a gun was not used.

A Manor Street resident complained about tractor-trailers causing wear and tear on borough streets. He said he saw such a truck on Central Avenue, where it had no reason being.  He also reported seeing large trucks  still traveling through the heart of town at Third and Locust.  He questioned council as to why these truck drivers are not being cited by the police.  Borough officials said certain streets are controlled by the state, and the borough therefore cannot erect signage. According to officials, there have been ongoing talks with PennDot, but so far to no avail.

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