COLUMBIA SPY

A public meeting will be held at 2 p.m. this Sunday, January 6, at 500 Chestnut Street to discuss repealing the borough's recent tax hike. Other issues will also be discussed including the formation of a citizens' coalition. Petitions and voter registration forms will be available at the meeting. (So far, 915 signatures have been collected on petitions.) All concerned citizens should attend and make their voices heard. (Light refreshments will be served.)

Following are our predictions for Columbia for the coming year. Some are educated guesses. Others are mere speculation: • A business entity will take over trolley operation under contract with the borough. • A business will request $400,000-$650,000 from the revolving loan fund. • Assistant Borough Manager Georgianna Schreck will retire/resign. • New Finance Manager Kyle Watts will move to another position within the borough. • Four councillors up for election this fall will be swept out of office. • Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger will resign. • Full-time Property Inspector Jay Frerichs will be promoted. • A company will begin operation in some shape or form at the Colonial Metals site.

"I would first like to address a concern that was raised following the last meeting. It was brought to my attention that a member of the public who spoke before this board voicing his concerns regarding the KOEZ was approached following the meeting and treated harshly. I'd encourage any member of the public wishing to speak before this board to do so without fear of being verbally attacked following our meetings. I'd appreciate it if members of the public resolved their concerns or disagreements at the podium and act with civility towards each other while you're on school grounds or here at the DAC."  - Columbia School Board President Keith Combs at December 18, 2018 Special School Board Meeting The quote above is in response to an incident that allegedly occurred after the December 13th special school board meeting at the District Administration Center. Attendees at December 13, 2018 school board meeting  It was reported by a citizen who had spoken at ...

Since it's now officially 2019, it's a good time to take a look back at some of issues and events of 2018. Here's one: We previously speculated that the $32,000 "security fence" erected along Heritage Drive about a year ago was a taxpayer funded giveaway. Information recently obtained by Columbia Spy more-or-less verifies that it was and suggests that a pattern of "alternative facts" was provided to the public by borough officials. At the November 2017 public works meeting , officials said the improvements were needed for privacy and aesthetics, and to resolve trespassing issues. Public Works Director Ron Miller said cottage owners told him that, due to the increased number of visitors to Columbia River Park, people are entering Riverfront Drive, a private road that runs through the tract. He said the new fence was a way to make a boundary. Mayor Leo Lutz added that the fence will also prevent encroachment on Heritage Drive by the cottage o...