COLUMBIA SPY

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Columbia school board approves transfer of surplus money to fund construction projects | Community News | lancasteronline.com

When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Oct. 16.

What happened: The board approved the transfer a surplus of $782,383 to fund construction projects.

Background: Money remains from the 2024-25 budget. Keith Ramsey, business manager, made the recommendation to transfer the funds to the capital improvement fund, an account set aside for renovations and maintenance of district buildings and property.

Details: Recent and ongoing projects discussed during the Oct. 7 work session include new doors to Park Elementary, installing a new oil tank and replacing handrails at Taylor Middle School, and updating the storage units, weight room and stadium lights at the Hill Campus.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-school-board-approves-transfer-of-surplus-money-to-fund-construction-projects/article_b9ec4423-3b44-4ca6-a61d-7cbe5b6be7e2.html

Columbia Borough School District to receive over $11 million from the state

For the 2025-26 school year, the Columbia Borough School District is projected to receive approximately $11,296,441 from the state of Pennsylvania. This represents an increase of about $160,115, or 1.4%, from the previous school year's funding. This increase is part of the state's larger budget aimed at addressing school funding disparities, as detailed in the WITF report.

2025-26 projected state funding: $11,296,441

2024-25 total state funding: $11,136,342

Increase from 2024-25: $160,115 (a 1.4% increase)

Friday, November 14, 2025

Columbia Crossing repairs to cost $400,000; borough seeks state grant

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

Columbia Borough Council has voted to apply for a $300,000 grant to help pay for repairs to the Columbia Crossing building at Columbia River Park.

During a structural evaluation by C.S. Davidson, engineers discovered extensive internal wood rot affecting the majority of the building's wooden vertical columns and lower portions of sloped beams. The inspection revealed that water had become trapped at the base of columns behind stone veneer, and metal connections had allowed moisture to accumulate in the beams.

Although the building does not present any immediate danger, engineers recommend addressing the rot within the next two years and conducting periodic inspections in the interim.

Lauer Construction provided an estimate of $399,600 for the removal and replacement of deteriorated structural members, including modifications designed to prevent future water damage.

To help fund repairs, borough officials are applying for a Statewide Local Share Assessment grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The original ask was for $200,000 but was increased to $300,000 at Thursday night's council meeting. The grant includes a 50% match to be paid by taxpayers.

Columbia Borough seeks $350,000 grant to replace street sweeper

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

Columbia Borough Council has applied for a $350,000 grant to buy a new street sweeper.

On Thursday night, council voted to apply for a Local Share Account (LSA) Grant for the purchase of a new sweeper. The existing sweeper has reached the end of its life after years of use in the borough, according to an executive brief.

The borough's Public Works Department reports that the sweeper has received numerous repairs, with more anticipated if it continues to be used long term.

The borough's street sweeping program fulfills "Project No. 1" in the its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Pollutant Reduction Plan Action Plan. Officials say replacing the sweeper is necessary to ensure the borough can continue to meet its MS4 goals.

Officials did not specify the price of a new sweeper at the meeting. The existing sweeper will likely be sold through Municibid, an online auction service for government agencies and others. The sweeper was purchased for $221,877 in 2017, when a previous sweeper "blew up," as Columbia Spy reported HERE.

Restaurant Inspections—Columbia Borough—November 14, 2025

Columbia Middletown BPOE No. 1074, 445 Chestnut St., Columbia, Nov. 7. Pass. Sliced turkey, a refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food in the small cooling unit, was date-marked by the facility, but was beyond the seven-day use- or sell-by date and requires discarding. Observed a large mound of frozen condensate in the middle of the floor of the walk-in freezer. Commercially processed, refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food (sliced ham), located in the small cooling unit, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened.
Chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low temperature sanitizing dishwasher was 0 ppm, and not 50-100 ppm as required. Facility filled partially filled container of chlorine bleach and primed the dishwasher; the final sanitizing concentration was 50 ppm.

JB Supermarket Inc., 234 Locust St., Columbia, Nov. 5. Pass. Observed half-gallon of whole milk and one quart of buttermilk beyond the sell-by date being offered for sale.

Sunoco Columbia, 1000 Columbia Ave., Lancaster, Nov. 3. Pass. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration of the quaternary ammonia of the three-compartment sink. Static dust observed on the fan guards of the walk-in cooler.