Author: SPY

At the July safety committee meeting, Jeff Helm said the new trucks are “four-seat vehicles with a pickup truck bed.” He also said the vehicles will be used by two full-time employees (Jeff Helm, Steve Kaufhold) and five part-time code officers. (Safety Committee, 7/11/18)

The borough is considering the purchase of a license plate reader unit for one of the police vehicles at a cost of $14,355. (Finance Committee, 7/23/18)

Right turn on red exiting River Park

Drivers exiting Columbia River Park, who stop between the railroad tracks due to the second red light, may make a right turn on red to exit the park. (Safety Committee, 7/11/18)

The mural at Eastern Drillers
The mural project at Eastern Drillers (along Front Street) was delayed due to “issues” between the company and the borough. The project is reportedly now back on track. (Source) 

Eastern Drillers reported concerns about stormwater flooding in their truck bays, difficulty of trucks backing in, fencing that was removed along their property. (Safety Committee, 7/11/18)

Issues with fire hydrants
Columbia Borough pays over $60,000 a year to rent fire hydrants (including water usage) from the Columbia Water Company, which owns the hydrants. During the recent fire on Cloverton Drive, a hydrant at Kinderhook/Cloverton was found to be cracked and leaked when the water was turned on. 

Another hydrant was unable to be used due to a valve being “frozen” in place. The water company has historically flushed/inspected/lubed hydrants on a regular basis. Officials at the meeting were not certain if this is still being done. (Safety Committee, 7/11/18)

Abandoned/unregistered/uninspected vehicles
Vehicles on borough property that are not moved after 48 hours can be ticketed. After three tickets, the vehicle can be towed by the borough. The borough is considering an ordinance that will affect vehicles on private property in which a vehicle can be declared a nuisance due to leaking fluids that could end up in stormwater runoff, or broken windows that could attract vermin, etc. (Safety Committee, 7/11/18)

Getting rid of abandoned vehicles could potentially free up 100 parking spaces throughout the borough. (Safety Committee, 7/11/18)

Renters and rentals
Residents have reported that pipeline workers are staying at the house at 1100 Locust. The property is owned by the McKonlys and is registered as a rental. Under current ordinance, the owner must inform the borough who the property is being rented to. The landlord is legally obligated to inform the borough of a change of occupancy so that the property can be re-inspected before the next tenant. (Safety Committee, 7/11/18)

The borough has stopped the creation of apartments
“The borough virtually has stopped allowing apartments to be created in the borough.” (Mayor Lutz, Safety Committee, 7/11/18)

Two blocks of Walnut to be repaved
The South 8th Street project is nearing completion. When it is finished, crews will begin repaving the 500 and 600 blocks of Walnut at a total cost of $432,000. The typical price tag is a little over $250,000 per block. The borough saved money using an 80/20 matching grant. (Public Works and Property Committee, 7/17/18)

Makle Park backboard

The Makle Park backboard that was broken recently might be repaired/replaced with pressure-treated plywood. This is the fourth backboard to be broken in as many years, with an average cost of $1,000 a year for repair/replacement. (Public Works and Property Committee, 7/17/18)

Makle Park camera

The surveillance camera at Makle Park did not record the incident in which a backboard was broken recently due to a radio receiver being “down.” That day, 10 cameras in the borough were “down.” (Safety Committee, 7/11/18)

Tractor-trailers on Bridge Street

Tractor-trailers are running through the exit at the safety island at Front and Bridge in order to turn left into Bridge Street. 

The borough is considering installing thermoplastic “piano keys” or street prints on the road to clarify the direction of traffic flow at the intersection. (Public Works and Property Committee, 7/17/18)

Market House interest

There are two entities interested in the Market House. The proposals will be revealed in July/August. (Public Works and Property Committee, 7/17/18)

Fox 43’s reporter got into it – literally.

But not everyone was concerned. Some found fun along the river’s edge.

Drivers on Walnut Street are no longer permitted to turn onto Commerce Street.

Drivers are no longer permitted to enter Front Street from Rotary Avenue. Rotary is now a one-way street running east (towards Rotary Park).

A sign on Walnut Street directs drivers to a parking area.

UPDATE (Tuesday morning): The parking sign has been removed. A “No Right Turn” arrow has been added.

https://lancasteronline.com/obituaries/reaves-f-goehring-jr/article_215e92cd-004e-579a-81f1-f7830ce13ef4.html

Contrary to what is stated in an LNP article (shown above), borough council’s  special session scheduled for 5 p.m. today is not open to the public.

 Looks like the Locust Street pawn shop might be getting pawned.

Notice from code official regarding an unlicensed vehicle in Avenue H

 Sticker shock!

 Free antique television

Here are a few about to be carted off to TV heaven.

 So that’s where that damaged section of Heritage Drive fence got to.

 Dropping off ties at the tracks

 New awnings at 301 Locust

 Poplar Street School is for sale.

 Down at the traffic safety island at Front and Bridge

 Apparently not so safe – Someone knocked over the reflectors.

 Painting the bell tower at the Salem United Church of Christ

 Just within reach

A new hatch has hit.

Down at River Park, too.

 Someone dropped their glasses in the mess but wisely didn’t go back for them.

Mayfly turf

And clumps on the river

 Speaking of mayflies, borough workers wrangled this giant one on Friday and brought it to River Park.

 They placed it here, near the pavilion. It’s actually a bike rack that was designed last year by Bella Gentile, who was in third grade at the time. 

Local artist John Morrow put it all together.

The many-legged thing is an apt addition to the park.

And here are some bikes.

The rain gardens at the park are looking healthy.

Here’s a house on the 300 block of Walnut.

 By the way, when did Heritage DRIVE become Heritage STREET?!

 There’s the Jolly Roger…

 …on a kayak.

This worker was painting the curbs the other day.

It didn’t help.

This Flagger Force worker politely and apologetically tried to explain to drivers why South 9th Street was blocked just beyond the intersection with Wright Street at the same time the left turn onto Wright Street was also blocked. Drivers had to turn right onto Wright [!] then right again onto South 10th Street, then back onto 462.

And this is planning?

A few minutes later, more traffic headaches, this time on the first block of South 6th. 

 Meanwhile, atop a telephone pole…

 Nag, nag, nag!

 Bitch, bitch, bitch!

 Looks like all families have their share of dysfunction.

On and on and on!

The National Watch and Clock Museum celebrated its 75th anniversary this past week.

Lots of folks attended. They came from all over, as attested to by the license plates seen below:

Oh dear lord, let’s hope these aren’t for the mayflies.

 On the job

 Resurrecting another ghost sign at Bootleg Antiques

Officer Dave Souders checking out the van

 Activity at Colonial Metals

Another view

Up, up, and away

Searching for an address?

 Fishin’

 Memory lapse

 Another property for sale – 

Berkshire Hathaway has about a dozen or so in Columbia, commercial and residential.

Doll in a wicker baby carriage at Tacos to Go

Possibly possessed

 Don’t forget: Red (and green) means STOP!

 Don’t go stirring this up.

Terrorist Hunting Permit

 Kid in a window

It continues at 3rd and Locust.

 Lucky osprey, unlucky fish

 More sticker shock

 Wrong way!

 The sign’s right there.

 Activity at Hinkle’s 

 Keeping a watchful eye

She saw the light.

 Take Away Refuse, please take away this refuse.

Enjoying the day

Red sail, but not quite in the sunset

Keena Watson of Soukup Automotive on 7th Street voiced her concerns to borough council about the lock boxes at the July council meeting.

Watson told council that she believes the ordinance does away with her right to choose what is best for her business. “Putting a key on the outside of my building is taking away my right to decide who is able to access my building,” she said. Watson questioned council about who will be accountable if a lock box key is stolen from a business. She cited an incident in Phoenix, Arizona in which 183 keys went missing and the city subsequently spent $50,000 to rekey all its boxes. She asked if the borough would be responsible for rekeying all the boxes if a similar event happened here, noting that, “If someone has a key, every box in the borough can be accessed by that single key.” She noted that if emergency personnel need to break into her business, insurance will pay for a broken door, but not for the installation, rekeying, or maintenance of a lock box.

“There are a lot of issues I feel like we don’t have answers for as business owners,” Watson said. “And for something that we’ve poured our heart and souls in, there’s a lot of vulnerability for us.”

Watson said she has a petition with signatures of 37 local business owners and 12 concerned citizens opposed to the mandatory installation of Knox Boxes but added that some business owners refused to sign out of fear of retaliation from borough officials. “I feel that it is a sad day in Columbia Pennsylvania, in the United States, where a citizen can’t stand up for what they believe in, because they’re afraid of their government. I think that’s sad,” she said.

Dr. William Kraft, a Columbia chiropractor, also addressed council about the ordinance. Kraft’s main concern was keeping medical records private and secure. He said his practice is governed by federal privacy laws. “A local ordinance is not going to supersede federal law,” he told council and warned that a security breach is possible if a box is compromised. “That box, I’m telling you, is a ticking time bomb for professionals like myself,” he said.

Kraft said he believes the requirement should instead be optional. He asked council for a show of hands on how many would put a box on their residences. About half of the council members raised their hands. “This ordinance was passed unanimously, but not everyone here on this council is willing to put one on their door,” Kraft said.

Columbia Borough Fire Chief Doug Kemmerly weighed in on the issue HERE.

John Novak, chair of the legislative committee said the issue will be discussed further at the committee’s next meeting, to be held Wednesday, August 8, at 6 p.m.