Author: SPY

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livestream halted the public’s ability to view the Columbia Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, but an archived version was posted on the borough’s Facebook page on December 24.]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

LETTER WRITER SAYS COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LANCASTER CITY WERE BILKED $1.5 MILLION DUE TO STATE'S EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA

DEEDS RECORDED – COLUMBIA BOROUGH – DECEMBER 28, 2020

Benjamin G. Sauder and Joslyn Sauder conveyed property on a public road to Awakened Properties LLC for $83,500.

Ranae J. Tibbens conveyed property on a public road to Archduke Investments LLC for $77,500.

Stephanie F. Hallett conveyed property on Walnut Street to John Joseph Sicotte for $120,000.

AJ Home Solutions LLC and Andrew Fry conveyed 243 N. Fourth St. to Owl Bridge Properties LLC for $115,000.

Heidi A. Stewart and Meg Seibert conveyed property on North Third Street to Thomas R. Preston and Nichole A. Preston for $110,500.

About Town 12/27/20

 This week’s photos of Columbia

(The last photos of the year)


This Charlie Brown tree(?) was spotted recently on 18th Street.

Last week’s thawing snow and Thursday’s heavy rains combined to cause flooding and raise water levels on the river this weekend:

Water levels “hovered” around 234 at Columbia River Park, which is 7 feet above normal.

The water even reached the top of the boat ramp.

Here are four from Todd Stahl:

************************
A few traces of the holiday season remain:
Route 462 & Cherry Street
South 5th & Cherry
************************
New ride in town
Mounting the sign at the Market House
The finished product
A closer look
The projected schedule
************************

Snow cleanup around town:
************************
Dumpster Street
Stuffed in the back
Get yours here.
Watch your step – all of them.
Checking the traffic controls at Front & Walnut
Icicles up at the tunnel (along the trail) 
Photo by Michelle Masch
A hazy shade of winter
A few from up the river by Todd Stahl:

************************
Free stuff
Choose your healing: the spiritual or the commercial.
(Or both)
Hornet’s nest (presumably abandoned) at Mount Bethel Cemetery
YOUR SPEED

Columbia Fire Department announces officers for 2021 term

The Columbia Borough Fire Department is proud to announce its officers for the 2021 term that will be effective on January 06, 2021. The membership would like to thank the outgoing officers for all their hard work and dedication to the department.

Elected Departmental Officers:

  • President – Matthew Reifsnyder
  • Vice President – Mike Armold
  • Treasurer – Pat Weaver
  • Assistant Treasurer – Regina Fisher
  • Secretary – Lauren Fritz
  • Assistant Secretary – Deb Zercher

Trustees – William Keyser, John Klinestever, Mike Zercher, Dave Mosteller, Mat Philips

Member-at-Large – Appointed by the Board in January

Fire Chief – Scott Ryno

Elected Relief Association Officers:

  • President – Jim Ciccocioppi
  • Vice President – Kyle Fritz
  • Treasurer – Gene Schmitt
  • Secretary – Will Meyers

Appointed Departmental Officers:

  • Deputy Chief – Denny Hershey
  • Assistant Chief 1 – Kevin Keyser
  • Assistant Chief 2 – Mike Zercher
  • Assistant Chief 3 – Bryan Keyser
  • Captain – Justin Misal
  • Rescue Lieutenant – Mike Splain
  • Truck Lieutenant – Mike Armold
  • Engine Lieutenant – Will Meyers
  • Safety Officer – Matthew Reifsnyder
  • Chief Engineer – Ricky Anderson
  • Fire Police Captain – Mike Rhodes
  • Fire Police Lieutenant – Ron Manley

DEEDS RECORDED – COLUMBIA BOROUGH – DECEMBER 20, 2020

Kerry D. Glenn conveyed 131 N. Third St. to WGMC Properties LLC for $90,000.

Amos B. Beiler conveyed 249 N. Third St. to Shamika L. Gray for $280,000.

Perfect Realty LLC and Samson Bergman conveyed property on a public road to Jason C. Foster and Jill L. Foster for $75,000.

Timothy J. Merrill conveyed 529 Union St. to QP JB Invest LLC for $1.