Repeal the Tax Hike - Stop the Tax Hike Petition Event

Last week, Columbia Borough Council voted to increase borough taxes by over 21%. Come to one of our many locations to sign our petition asking the council to call a special meeting to repeal this tax hike - or download,  sign, and return the petition:

Download and print the petition to sign and share. Return to 500 Chestnut Street by 9 a.m. Friday, December 21, 2018.

Or sign the petition at one of the following locations this Thursday at the times listed below:

• Soukup's Automotive, 7th St - 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• 430 Linden Street - Noon-6 p.m.
• 500 Chestnut Street - Noon-6 p.m.

The petition states:

“We, the undersigned taxpayers and/or residents of the Borough of Columbia, do hereby petition and demand that borough council hold a special meeting as soon as possible to do the following: 1.) To eliminate the $800,000 that was to be allocated to the Revolving Loan Fund in the 2019 budget; 2.) To repeal the Revolving Loan Fund Ordinance 897; 3.) To repeal the tax hike for 2019, thereby reinstating the 2019 tax rate at 6.6 Mills.”

Agenda - Special School Board Meeting, December 18, 2018

Agenda - Public Works/Public Property Meeting - December 18, 2018

Residents gather to move Columbia forward

A large gathering of residents of Columbia Borough occurred Sunday afternoon, led by the Columbia Democratic Committee. The meeting was intended to identify community leaders who are interested in running for office in Columbia in the coming year. The Committee is also seeking residents to serve as committee people, organizing in their respective neighborhoods and supporting local municipal candidates for 2019.

Issues on which Democratic candidates will be focusing include using taxpayer money for public good, not for private development interests as well as improving the standard of living for Columbia residents and transparency in local government.

Interested parties may email ColumbiaDemCommittee@gmail.com with their interest as soon as possible.

About Town

This week's photos from around Columbia

(Click/tap on photos for larger, clearer images.)

 Getting up in the world?

Hold on to those buckets!

These two men were doing repairs on the communications tower next to the COLA building.

Whatever they're getting paid, it's not enough.

 Ornate historic grave markers at Mount Bethel, here and below

 A profile of Jesus at Laurel Hill

 Grave marker engraving at Laurel Hill

 Ditto

 Over on the 500 block of Walnut Street: Let's hope someone doesn't think this is acceptable.

 Someone just had to do it.

 Down at the Mifflin House on Walnut

 St. James Lutheran on South 10th

 Open-air gazebo

 Patriotic display at the VFW

 This is where the dumpsters hide, right next to the train cars.

 A horse is a horse, of course, of course - unless it's a weather vane.

 Fleet of tubs at Sahd Salvage

 A sign

 That water leak at the Columbia Plaza parking lot needs to get fixed before winter really sets in.

 Employee rights - being left behind

 A New Life at the rehab house on Walnut

 You don't see many of these around town.

 Christmas is coming.

 Trying to high-five the high five?

Bored on a board

Organize Columbia! to push for change in local government

Van is lifted from sinkhole area at North 3rd & Linden

 A van was found partially sunk into the opening of a sinkhole at North 3rd and Linden today.

Emergency personnel responded to a report of a sinkhole at the intersection of North 3rd and Linden Streets at about 1:30 p.m today. Upon arrival, personnel discovered a van with its front driver's side wheel partially sunk into an opening in the asphalt in a small parking area. Officials also found that the opening expanded just under the asphalt into a hole about 6 feet in diameter and 14 to 20 feet deep along a storm sewer line.

Out of concern that the asphalt surface could collapse if the van were to be towed, officials instead had the vehicle lifted from the area via crane supplied by Patriot Towing of Mountville. The van was later towed from the scene.

 Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Helm examines a utility map of the area.

Patriot Towing prepares the vehicle to be lifted from the sinkhole area.

The van being lifted via crane.

 Personnel inspect the sinkhole opening after the van was removed.