Author: SPY

Columbia Borough Council voted 4-2 on Tuesday night to approve a 25% tax increase, raising the millage rate to 10 mills under Ordinance 954. Councilman Eric Kauffman introduced the motion, which Councilman Kelly Murphy seconded. In a roll call vote, Councilors Peter Stahl and Joanne Geesey cast the two dissenting votes. Councilwoman Barbara Fisher was absent.

Mayor Leo Lutz stated he would not sign the ordinance.

According to PA State law:

“If the mayor does not approve the ordinance, the mayor shall return it with objections, which shall be entered upon the minutes, to the council at its next scheduled meeting occurring at least ten days after the meeting at which the ordinance was enacted by council.

(iii) Council shall reconsider the ordinance either at the meeting at which the vetoed ordinance was returned or not later than ten days after the meeting at any other scheduled meeting. If, after reconsideration, a majority of all elected council members plus one votes to override the mayor’s veto, the ordinance shall have full force and effect as if it had received the approval of the mayor. The vote shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names and votes of the members shall be entered upon the minutes.

(iv) A scheduled meeting, as used in this section, may be either a regular, special or reconvened meeting.

(3) If an ordinance is not returned by the mayor at council’s next scheduled meeting occurring at least ten days after its presentation to the mayor, the ordinance shall have full force and effect as if it had been approved by the mayor.”

LINK

Council also voted 4-2 on Resolution 2024-38 to adopt the budget for 2025. Once again, Stahl and Geesey were the two “no” votes.

In a 4-2 vote, Columbia Borough Council approved Ordinance 954 Tuesday night, setting the tax rate for 2025 at 10 mills, an increase of 2 mills, or 25%,  over the previous millage. 

Councilors Peter Stahl and Joanne Geesey voted no to the increase. Councilwoman Barbara Fisher was absent.

(Details will follow. )

A major shakeup is coming in the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Senator-Elect Dave McCormick named State Senator and Republican Whip Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) as his State Director, the first staffing announcement McCormick has made since being elected to the U.S. Senate.
MORE:

Aument to Depart State Senate For Role as McCormick’s State Director

The meeting packet is HERE.

From 6am on Monday, December 9th thru 6pm on Friday, December 13th, Santa D and his elves will be collecting donations for the Toys for Tots programs in Lancaster and York Counties. Donations will be accepted 24/hours a day on the Columbia side of the Route 462 Bridge.

MORE:

https://www.961sox.com/2024/10/16/santa-ds-toy-challenge-on-the-bridge/

The estate of Schmitt Sandra J. Est, Schmitt Sandra Jean conveyed 642 Manor St. to Mary B. Schmitt for $54,199.

Samuel E. Esh conveyed 450 Avenue I to Joseph L. Miller for $150,000.

Vestal Amber, Vestal Matthew Brent, Vestal Matthew B. conveyed 306 Perry St. to Kailey J. Wahlberg for $1.

M&M Realty Co. conveyed 1401 Manor St. to Lebron Luis Angel for $344,000.

 This week’s photos of Columbia

(Click photos to see larger, sharper images.) 

Fall sunsets are the best . . .

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Someone didn’t close the lid at River Park. 

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The DAC got a new sign . . .

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A harvest display 

These signs are available online. They’re legal on certain vehicles under certain conditions. 

Christmas is coming.

Here are two of Butcher’s creations made from spoons (above and below).

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And right around the corner stands this clock, left from the days of the Global Time Wizard. 

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More signs of Christmas . . . 

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Sticker shock!

Detail of a grave marker at Mount Bethel 

Here’s a Tesla Cybertruck in the wild.

There it is in its hideaway. Elon Musk claims these vehicles are bulletproof. If so, it’s a good thing to have in Columbia, because…

…bullets were flying last Thursday when a man was struck by several from a shooter. There were no messages to residents via textmygov, although police later posted information online.

Police are investigating the shooting. 

Here’s another photo of the truck fire that occurred about an hour and a half before the shooting. 

Still more signs of Christmas . . .

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Here’s a side of the Shannon Armory not often seen.

Closed on Thanksgiving & Chriotmao.

More railroad ties are being replaced . . .

Norfolk Southern still hasn’t completed work on this crossing at the borough sheds.

Norfolk Southern also blocked Union Street this week for railroad work, as they did last week. Once again, there were no messages to residents from the borough via textmygov, so maybe it’s time to cancel the service, especially since council claims it’s trying to cut the budget. It costs taxpayers $5,000 a year.

Santa Claus is coming to town. This morning, workers were setting up for his arrival. From 6 a.m. on Monday, December 9, thru 6 p.m. on Friday, December 13, Santa D and his elves will be collecting donations for the Toys for Tots programs in Lancaster and York Counties. Donations will be accepted 24 hours a day on the Columbia side of the Route 462 Bridge.

Here are the vans carrying equipment for the project. 

Time for a new sign at a local business. 

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Columbia Borough Fire Department personnel rushed to the scene of a vehicle fire on Thursday, December 5, after receiving a call at 11:42 a.m. The incident involved a commercial pickup truck in a parking lot along the 500 block of Avenue H. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames. 

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/incidents/shooting-incident-0

Police vehicles in the 100 block of Avenue H, shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday, December 5.

A shooting was reported Thursday at 12:14 p.m. at the intersection of North 2nd Street and Walnut Street, according to the “Lancaster County News” Facebook page operated by Mel Grill.

Reportedly, one male victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds at the location. Emergency responders, including police and ambulance units, were dispatched to the scene. Law enforcement officers and police vehicles were subsequently observed in the 100 block of Avenue H.