Firefighters brave hot weather to battle vehicle fire on Manor Street

Firefighters from the Columbia Borough Fire Department braved 90+ degree temperatures early Saturday afternoon to battle a vehicle fire on the 400 block of Manor Street. Personnel fought the blaze for about 20 minutes, using firefighting foam. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Video by Zachary Lape. Used with permission.

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting - July 26, 2022

 

Download the meeting packet HERE.

Columbia Borough Council authorizes updated stormwater management ordinance

Borough Council authorized staff to advertise an updated stormwater management ordinance that changes the amount of square footage property owners may add before they need an engineer's report on how to handle water runoff.

Details: Previously, property owners could add up to 1,000 square feet before they needed a professional's report on how to deal with excess water. The rewritten document raises that amount to 2,001 square feet but adds a new provision for projects from 501 to 2,000 square feet. In these cases, owners will need to submit a written plan that explains how water runoff will be handled.

Quotable: "You can come in, and borough staff will help you design the appropriately sized stormwater facility," said Derek Rinaldo, borough engineer. This section aims to help people planning smaller projects, such as a pool, garage or shed. Borough stormwater solutions may include a ring garden, trench or other water infiltration systems, Rinaldo said. Additions of more than 2,000 square feet still will require an engineer's stormwater report.

Why now?: The state Department of Environmental Protection has released new guidelines for stormwater management, and the updated ordinance will follow those rules, Rinaldo said.

More: Property owners planning additions up to 500 square feet still have to account for water runoff even though no written plan is required. "You are still responsible for your stormwater," Rinaldo said, noting that no water may spill onto a neighbor's property. "We will be looking at that."

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-borough-council-authorizes-updated-stormwater-management-ordinance/article_36c24308-07b6-11ed-bd5b-ef220885faef.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

COLUMBIA BOROUGH RECEIVES MORE THAN $8 MILLION FOR MCGINNESS INNOVATION PARK

Economic Development Company Finance Corporation was approved for a $3,352,020 grant and a $5,028,030 loan to help with the development of the McGinness Innovation Park in Columbia Borough.

Nine projects in Pennsylvania have received funding through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to work to attract businesses to the area, Gov. Tom Wolf's office announced Tuesday.

The Business In Our Sites (BOS) projects received a cumulative $48,710,441 in grants and loans. BOS projects help communities develop sites that are ready to house growing and expanding businesses.

"Between our prime location, our skilled workforce, and our excellent infrastructure, the commonwealth has a lot to offer current and potential businesses. This BOS funding is a great tool that provides the resources needed to build pad-ready sites to increase Pennsylvania's ability to attract and retain businesses," Wolf said in a press release.

MORE:

https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania/nine-pa-projects-receive-money-to-attract-businesses/#aoh=16582544658579&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc27.com%2Fpennsylvania%2Fnine-pa-projects-receive-money-to-attract-businesses%2F 

Man arrested in 1975 killing of Lindy Sue Biechler, Lancaster County's oldest cold case

A man who investigators say once lived in the same apartment complex as Lindy Sue Biechler has been arrested and charged with stabbing her to death.

David V. Sinopoli, 68, of the 300 block of Faulkner Drive, East Hempfield Township, has been charged with criminal homicide in the 1975 killing that Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams called the oldest unsolved cold case in the county.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/man-arrested-in-1975-killing-of-lindy-sue-biechler-lancaster-countys-oldest-cold-case/article_db1fc274-068d-11ed-b5e2-8742adc89003.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Do Pa. fire companies fall under open records laws? Commonwealth court could rule on that

WILLIAMSPORT – An appeal in a Lycoming County case could give Commonwealth Court the opportunity to rule whether volunteer fire companies are local agencies under the Right to Know Law (RTKL).

The appeal filed Friday is of the June 20 decision by Judge Eric R. Linhardt that the Clinton Twp. Volunteer Fire Co. is a local agency and must respond to RTKL requests.

MORE HERE.

Agenda - Columbia Borough Planning to Meeting - July 19, 2022

 

Download the meeting packet HERE.