Columbia Spy

By Columbia Spy – September 16, 2026

Jack Brommer, who has spent nearly three decades serving Columbia Borough in different roles, has submitted his resignation as borough manager, effective November 13, 2026, according to a letter posted on The Columbia Chronicle. So far, the reason for his resignation has not been made public. 

In September 2025, as part of a planned succession, he took on the role of interim borough manager while continuing to serve as police chief — a dual role he maintained through April 2026. During that transitional period, he earned a $118,000 police chief salary plus a $2,000 monthly stipend for his added manager duties, with guidance from part-time assistant borough manager Ron Youtz helping smooth the handoff.

On May 1, 2026, Brommer made the transition official: he retired from the police force after 29 years of service and stepped into the role of full-time Columbia Borough Manager, with a starting salary of $110,000 per year. His retirement as chief cleared the way for Holly Arndt, who was unanimously approved by the borough council on April 28, 2026, to take over as Columbia’s new Police Chief. Arndt officially assumed the role on May 1, 2026, and was formally sworn in during a public induction ceremony on May 5, 2026.

Brommer joined the Columbia Borough Police Department in 1997 as a patrol officer and rose through the ranks to become chief of police in 2011, a post he held for roughly 15 years. 

By Columbia Spy – September 15, 2026

The last two cones (pinnacles) were removed from the Keystone Firehouse during demolition today (9/15/26) — for a total of three.

Above: The cones as they appeared on Friday, August 21 — a day after the building was damaged by a tornado. 

By Columbia Spy – September 15, 2026

By Columbia Spy – September 14, 2026

E. Impact Investments LLC conveyed 22 S. Second St. to Friends of The Susquehanna River Art Collection for $450,000.

Gerfin Diane M, Seacock Diane M. conveyed 1272 Stamans Lane to Highmount Properties LLC for $170,000.

Brady Michael A, Brady Samantha E. conveyed 829 Locust St. to Clckn Solutions LLC for $145,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 309 Cherry St. to Fournier Julianne, Knokey Brandon for $283,250.

Acquisition Group LLC conveyed 727 Walnut St. to Jdw Property Solutions Inc. for $59,900.

Angela M. Stonesifer conveyed 28 N. Sixth St. to Emanuel Stoltzfus for $189,900.

Multiple units responded to Columbia River Park at 10:13 am Monday (9/14/26) for a report of a man who jumped from the Veterans Memorial Bridge. According to dispatch audio, the man was seen floating under the bridge. A witness said he then started to swim towards shore. After being rescued, he was transported by ambulance.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ToZvkyNpyZc?is=yBRjD6WLCcqpTgQb

Outdoor Fun for Everyone

By Columbia Spy – September 14, 2026

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING 

NOTICE is hereby given that Columbia Borough Council will hold a special meeting on September 24, 2026, at 7:00 pm to discuss proposed changes to the Borough’s Zoning Ordinance regarding data centers and any other business as may arise. The meeting will be held at the Columbia Borough School District High School Auditorium located at 901 Ironville Pike, Columbia, PA 17512.

COLUMBIA BOROUGH COUNCIL

By: Evan M. Gabel, Solicitor

Photos of Columbia, PA

Week ending 9/13/26

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.

A heron with a hapless fish in its beak

Heron catches fish, drops fish, recatches fish, swallows fish, sips water.

A smaller one was nearby.

Whiskey barrels and half-barrels at Tollbooth Antiques 

Planks at Tollbooth Antiques 

Residue from a vehicle accident at North 2nd & Chestnut 

Flags on 9/11

Paving at the Wrights Ferry Mansion 

Traffic jam (?) at the bottom of Walnut 

Man pushing a dump truck

A goldfinch way up there

Repair work after hit and run at 5th & Chestnut 

Repair in progress at 5th & Chestnut 

USGS was here to check on the river 

The 400 block of Avenue G was cleaned up.

Power washing at 28 North 2nd

Demo in progress

###

Emergency personnel responded to a vehicle accident involving a Subaru Outback and a Ford SUV near North 3rd & Avenue F at 5:20 p.m. Friday (9/11/26). (On the dispatch sheet, the location was listed as N. 3rd St. and Chestnut Street.)  In addition to fire units, several medical units were called. One person was seen being transported by ambulance.

[Photo: Lee Valentine]

Columbia Borough will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, as part of the regular monthly council meeting. The hearing will be held at the Columbia Borough Hall, 308 Locust Street, Columbia, PA 17512. The council meeting will begin at 7:00 PM.

The purpose of this hearing is to discuss needs in the community that Columbia Borough is planning to address with funds available under Lancaster County’s Fiscal Year 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Columbia Borough Council has identified a project that they intend to submit to the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Lancaster to address one or more of the needs identified by Columbia Borough and contained in Lancaster County’s Fiscal Years 2026-2029 Consolidated Plan. Public comments or questions for consideration at the meeting will be accepted until 4:00 PM, September 18, 2026, to Jack Brommer, Borough Manager, via email at boroughmanager@columbiapa.net or phone at (717) 684-2467. The public may stream the meeting live via the Borough’s YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCBMngwpMdb1AmgtR_MlFQ. Columbia Borough Council invites affected residents, property owners, and other stakeholders to attend this meeting to identify other needs that should be addressed and to comment on the following potential proposed project: The request is for $250,000 in CDBG funding for the rehabilitation of the Columbia Crossings building. The project includes structural repairs along with ADA improvements.

Source: Columbia Borough