CCCA Public Meeting Sunday, Dec.15, to look at 2020 Borough Budget overspending, Rezoning, other issues

Everyone's invited!

The Columbia Concerned Citizens Association is holding a public meeting this coming Sunday, December 15, to inform Columbia Borough residents and taxpayers about proposed overspending in the 2020 Columbia Borough budget just passed by Borough Council.

The planned borough-wide rezoning will also be discussed. Borough Council plans to vote on this issue at its special meeting on Monday, December 16.

Bring your questions to the Columbia Animal Shelter, 265 South 10th Street, at 2 p.m. this coming Sunday.

[Source: columbiaconcerned.com]

Seen Today - Thursday, December 12, 2019

 The excavation site on the first block of Locust Street, commonly known as "The Hole in the Ground" by residents, was being filled in this morning.  Loads of dirt were delivered by dump truck, and a front end loader pushed the fill into place. The site was excavated as an initial stage in the construction of a planned four-story apartment building. Finding funds for the project has been a problem for the developers.

 A little over a week ago, the notice shown here and below was posted at the site, requiring the owners to take remedial steps, one of which was filling in the excavated area.

In 2017, Council approved an application for demolition of this building to make way for the project. Columbia Spy reported on the story HERE.

Phone Scam: Don't Fall for Fake Callers

[Submitted by Nick Williams]

Sparrow Websites Hosts 2nd Annual Free Website Giveaway for Nonprofits

Columbia, Pa. – Sparrow Websites announced its second annual Ugly Website Makeover Giveaway, now open for nonprofit nominations through noon on December 23, 2019. The winning nonprofit will receive a free website redesign valued at $6,500.

Last year, Sparrow Websites gave the gift of a website makeover to two nonprofits who were in need of updated websites. This year, you can nominate your favorite nonprofits again – and get extra votes for ugly sweater photos! It’s a simple process of nominating a nonprofit, and then boosting your “tickets in the hat” by posting an ugly sweater image, tagging @SparrowWebsites on IG or FB, and they get 5 extra votes!

On December 23 at 4 p.m., Sparrow will be pulling the winner of the website giveaway out of a Santa hat during a Facebook Live. Follow along as they announce the winner of their Facebook page @SparrowWebsites.

To nominate a nonprofit, visit www.sparrowwebsites.com/ugly. Each form submission counts as one entry and individuals can only nominate a particular nonprofit one time. Participants are welcome to nominate as many nonprofit organizations as they would like. For five additional entries, take a photo of yourself or your team in an ugly sweater and tag @SparrowWebsites.

For any additional questions, you can email Sparrow Websites at hello@sparrowwebsites.com or visit www.sparrowwebsites.com/ugly.

[Source: Press release]

Video: House fire on 100 block of South 4th Street - 12/9/19

[Submitted video]

Columbia Market House Project: Next financial boondoggle or economic engine?

The document shown below, which raises several major questions about the Columbia Market House project, was submitted to Columbia Spy and is published here with permission. The author is a taxpaying Columbia Borough resident, whose name is being withheld by request.

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting - December 10, 2019

Download the council packet HERE.

Download the November 2019 Finance Reports HERE.