About Town - August 17, 2025

 This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Apparently, a biker gang was in town. 

Dedicated to all

Bagged

Mobile home?

No, it's Halo's Eatery's food trailer!

You can't go back anyway, unless you have a TARDIS.

Superman's still in town. Rumor has it he's gone "woke." Not sure about Krypto, though. 

A piano at Coffee & Cream . . .

. . . looking not unlike an LSD hallucination

One of these does not belong.

Time to scrub this marker

A curious cat

He wasn't camera-shy at all.

Green cap on South 4th 

This car is presumed to be the one involved in the rollover accident on Route 30 east on Friday. 

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The 500 block of Chestnut Street is being milled–again.

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USGS was at Columbia River Park on Thursday. 

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More free stuff–on the first block of North 5th.

A "free-range"chicken was on Walnut Street on Thursday morning.

An egret fishing

Caught one!

Going back for more

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A newly arrived donation box on the 1200 block of Franklin

More progress at the Linden Street Build 

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More progress at 1020 Manor 

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Heavy trucks on South 4th

Time's up.

'Til next week!

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DA's office joins growing ICE partnership network; Columbia Borough already took a stand

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office has applied to join Immigration and Customs Enforcement's task force program, which would provide specialized training for one of its detectives, according to an August 15, 2025 LNP article. This move comes as part of a broader expansion of ICE partnerships throughout the county, with five other law enforcement agencies already approved for the program since the beginning of the year.

According to the article, Erik Yabor, spokesperson for the district attorney, explained that ICE officials reached out to encourage the DA's office to apply because one county detective already participates in the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force. The office intends to train only this same detective through ICE's program, with no current plans to extend training to additional personnel.

The certification process requires 40 hours of online training and is limited to U.S. citizens with at least two years of law enforcement experience. According to Yabor, the purpose is to ensure the detective "has the knowledge and awareness of current practices so they can understand how to handle such cases as the need arises." Importantly, the trained detective will not be tasked with conducting immigration searches or raids.

Columbia Borough pledges cooperation
Last year, Columbia Borough Council passed a resolution pledging cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, positioning itself as a direct response to Lancaster City's "Welcoming City" ordinance. At the March 12, 2024 council meeting, a 6-0 vote (with one absence) made Columbia the first local municipality to adopt what officials call a "non-sanctuary" resolution.

Columbia Borough Council passed this resolution at its March 12, 2024 meeting. 

Council President Heather Zink said that while Columbia has been cooperating with ICE all along, the resolution serves as a public declaration of "where we stand." The measure doesn't materially change existing practice.

The resolution criticizes Lancaster City's February 2024 ordinance, which codified a long-standing policy prohibiting city officials and police from asking about immigration status except when required by law or court order. Columbia's resolution claims such policies create sanctuary cities that experience increases in migrant crimes and financial strain on social services.

Scope and limitations of local immigration enforcement
Borough Mayor Leo Lutz and Police Chief Jack Brommer clarified that Columbia police lack the authority and intent to engage in proactive immigration enforcement; officers cannot stop individuals solely to demand identification or question their immigration status.

Instead, the department takes a reactive approach. When individuals are detained for criminal activity, traffic violations, or outstanding warrants, officers may refer cases to ICE if evidence suggests undocumented status. Chief Brommer noted that such referrals "do not happen often."

"Our officers cannot just walk up to someone and demand to see their identification," Lutz said at the March 2024 meeting.

Regional response and political divisions
Oneunitedlancaster.com noted that contrasting approaches between Lancaster City and Columbia Borough reflect broader partisan divisions on immigration policy. Lancaster's council is entirely Democratic, while Columbia's is completely Republican.

Columbia officials expressed concerns about potential spillover from Lancaster's welcoming policies, worrying that immigrants might relocate to the borough for lower housing costs. "Lancaster city can't handle it," Lutz said. "They're going to spread out somewhere."

Lancaster City Council President Amanda Bakay expressed disappointment with Columbia's resolution, arguing it's based on misinformation about Lancaster's ordinance. She defended the city's policy, stating that "codifying that long-standing policy into an ordinance makes our city a better place because residents will not be afraid to report crimes or make other requests to the city government," according to a March 14, 2024 oneunitedlancaster.com article. 

Growing county-wide movement
Since Columbia's declaration, several other municipalities have adopted similar resolutions, including Pequea, West Earl, East Cocalico, and West Cocalico townships. This local trend is part of a broader trend of Lancaster County law enforcement agencies either joining ICE task forces or applying for training programs.

The debate reflects national tensions over immigration policy, with advocates arguing that sanctuary cities do not experience higher crime rates, while opponents say that noncitizens account for a disproportionate number of federal criminal arrests.

[Sources: LancasterOnline, OneUnitedLancaster, Columbia Spy]

Restaurant Inspections - Columbia Borough - August 15, 2025

Burger King No 2605, 531 N. Third St., Columbia, Aug. 7. Pass. Observed a tan, slimy residue on the deflector plate of the ice maker. Observed lids for sodas stored with food contact surface exposed to hand contamination. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view. A working container of degreaser was stored on the same shelf with food equipment in the dishwashing area.

Foresters of America, 201 Locust St., Columbia, Aug. 7. Pass. No violations.

Turkey Hill No. 68, 342 Chestnut St., Columbia, Aug. 7. Pass. No violations.

Chicken visits Walnut Street but doesn't cross the road; council to review ordinance on owning chickens

This chicken was wandering unaccompanied near the former Shannon Armory on Walnut Street Thursday morning. Is it an "illegal"?

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

A Columbia Borough resident's request to keep chickens in his yard has prompted local officials to review current zoning regulations.

At the July 29 council meeting, Jesse Rabinowitz explained that his family has been growing more of their own food in response to rising costs. However, when he looked into raising chickens in his backyard, he found that borough ordinance requires properties to have at least 10,000 square feet – a threshold his property does not meet.

Rabinowitz asked council to reconsider the current ordinance, arguing that the square footage requirement prevents residents from keeping chickens. 

Mayor Leo Lutz said waste is the primary issue with backyard chickens. Borough Manager Steve Kaufhold said “We would have to change the zoning ordinance in order to do that, so we would need to look at at that internally,” Kaufhold told Rabinowitz, adding that his only recourse currently is to request a special exception from the zoning hearing board. Council President Heather Zink said council could put it on their legislation list.

In addition to the 10,000 feet requirement, current regulations require permits for any chicken coop or animal enclosure and mandate that such structures be placed at least 20 feet from residential buildings and 100 feet from food service establishments. 

Residents interested in keeping chickens are advised to contact Columbia Borough Hall for current regulations and permit requirements.

Agenda - Columbia Borough School Board Meeting - August 14, 2025