Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting - January 12, 2021

 

Download the 61-page meeting packet HERE.

Zoning/Planning Report 1/12/2021

Armed Man Arrested, Charged after Hours-Long Standoff at West Hempfield Township Home | Lancaster County District Attorney's Office

Shawn Stryker

An armed West Hempfield Township man was arrested Sunday night after an hours-long standoff at his home. Lancaster County Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) took 49-year-old Shawn Stryker into custody about 9:15 p.m., about 10 hours after police were initially called to the 500 block of Goldfinch Drive. 

During the standoff, a SERT officer fired a shot when Stryker exited the home with a rifle drawn and aimed at police. Soon after, Stryker fired two shots while inside his home. 

No one was struck by gunfire.

MORE:

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/da/11617/post/armed-man-arrested-charged-after-hours-long-standoff-west-hempfield-township-home

 

About Town - January 3, 2021

This week's photos of Columbia 

Ready for the trail

Here's an example of the right to "bear arms" and the responsibility to wear a mask.

A good, swift kick usually knocks 'em over.

Happy holidays!

Kwanzaa is an African-American celebration of life from December 26 to January 1.

In 2020, Hanukkah began at sundown on Thursday, December 10, and continued through Friday, December 18.

Oversize load

Coming through

Why?

Recent river flooding left piles of debris at River Park . . .

Fortunately, our highway/public works department cleared the way with tools of the trade.

Alan S. helped clear the boat ramp.

A hawk waiting for dinner to walk by.

Is the gas station-to-be now a car dealership-to-be?

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church reaching heavenward

More scarf bombing on Locust

What happened?

Get your Zig-Zag Cones here.

Meanwhile in Manheim, Trumpism runs strong . . . 

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Work Session - January 5, 2021

 

Download the 6-page meeting packet HERE.

BEWARE OF PHONE SCAM - DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Several people have received calls today (12/30/20) from a woman claiming to be from "PPL." The caller states, "your account reflects a disconnection order taking place today for non-payment history." The caller (from 717-431-5989) then gives an option to be connected to a billing department.

PPL has verified to Columbia Spy that the calls did not originate from them and that they are investigating the issue as a scam. Comments regarding the calls (https://who-called.us/Number/1-717-431-5989) are shown below:

Council passes 2021 budget with no tax increase; officials warn about Covid

Takeaways from council's last meeting of 2020:

[An interruption of the Facebook livestream halted the public's ability to view the Columbia Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, but an archived version was posted on the borough's Facebook page on December 24.]

The 2021 budget

Council voted 6-1 to adopt the 2021 budget, projected to be $6.87 million.The municipal millage rate will remain at 8 mills, but only because over half a million dollars was pulled from reserves. Councilman Howard Stevens was the no vote.

(The municipal millage rate has fluctuated over the past five years. In November 2015, council shot down an opportunity to reduce millage a quarter of a mill, from 8 mills to 7.75. Council had discussed lowering the rate but ultimately voted 4-3 to keep it at 8 mills. In 2017, the rate dropped to 6.6 mills for the following year. The decrease was due to the 2017 reassessment in which the rate decreased in proportion to an increase in taxable assessment. At the end of 2018, council voted to increase millage 21.2% to 8 mills, where it remains today. Current councillors Todd Burgard, Fran FitzGerald, and Pam Williams were on council at the time and voted for the tax hike.)

At last week's meeting, finance manager Kyle Watts was asked if he sees Columbia ever being in a position again to lower the millage. Watts gave a brief scenario of possibilities and said that's the direction we want to go.

Covid
Mayor Leo Lutz and Police Chief Jack Brommer reminded residents to take precautions in regard to Covid. Brommer said the borough has received notification of an increasing number of Covid cases.

The municipal bond

Council voted to refinance the borough's municipal bond, potentially saving taxpayers a significant amount of money in the end (the end being 2038). However, before those savings are realized, annual payments over the next few years will actually be higher, meaning taxpayers must come up with thousands more each year to make the payments. Keep in mind that the borough already borrowed from reserves this year to avoid a tax increase.

Dumpsters
Regarding the dumpster fee of $10/day, councilwoman Sharon Lintner asked how long dumpsters can remain on borough streets taking up parking spaces. Currently, there is no set time frame, but as a result of discussion, a change will be made in the application process - possibly a requirement to renew weekly - but no change in the daily fee.

Tree lights

Taxpayers were charged $1,000 to hang the Christmas tree lights in Locust Street Park this year. This has been an annual charge since 2019. Borough manager Mark Stivers said there is another fee for taking them down in the spring but did not specify an amount. Fees apparently include lift rental. Arnold's Property Services, an out-of-town outfit, has been providing the service. Previously, the fire company hung the lights every year, but in 2019, council chose to pay Arnold's to do it instead. (Taxpayers paid several thousand dollars for new lights in 2018.) Lintner suggested keeping the money local, if possible.

The fire company hanging lights 

at Locust Street Park in 2018.

COLUMBIA'S BLACK OLIVE IS AMONG THE RESTAURANTS HURTING FROM THE SHUTDOWN

"We don't want to lose our business license. Plus, we're a new business here," said Michael Sivri, one of the owners of Black Olive Family Diner in Columbia, who just helped reopen Ephrata's Cloister Restaurant in November.

Sivri said he considered the possibly of staying open and was encouraged to do so by some customers. But he ultimately decided to close, lay off his roughly 40 employees, and maintain some kind of presence by offering takeout even though it barely makes any money

He says he just hopes the lockdown really does end Jan. 4.

"Three weeks is not going to hurt us, but I hope he's not going to expand it," he said.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/restaurant-owners-workers-struggle-with-shutdown-during-normally-busy-holidays-its-painful/article_64930ec6-4600-11eb-b83f-ff34142c2836.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share