Author: SPY

Columbia Municipal Authority votes YES on LASA sale

At its June 19 meeting, the Columbia Municipal Authority voted to sell Columbia’s sewer system assets to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA). In a four-to-one vote, the Authority approved the sale. William Kloidt, Michael Schober, Raymond McCarty, and Norman Meiskey voted for the sale, while Breneman Shultz voted against it. Authority members conceded that adjustments to existing agreements, such as those with West Hempfield, will be needed.

For the sale to be complete, Columbia Borough Council must also approve it.  That vote will take place at the Committee of the Whole meeting this coming Monday, June 23.

William Kloidt said he based his decision to sell on two main factors: the future cost of sewer lines, and economies of scale. He also urged the borough to negotiate for a position on the LASA board. Kloidt proposed that funds from the sale be used for other projects, such as placing windmills on the borough farm to generate electricity for the borough.  He projected that one windmill would cost $2.2 million and added that workers displaced by the sale could be employed in this endeavor.

Norm Meiskey said the sale will eliminate a significant number of liabilities and that employees have kept the plant running as efficiently as possible with old equipment.  He cited the borough’s antiquated infrastructure as another factor in his decision to support the sale.  He also said that expenses incurred by LASA for maintenance and upgrades will be passed on to over 30,000 ratepayers, rather than only 3,700 in Columbia. He added that there will be a five-year integration to LASA’s minimum rates and that since their inception, LASA has averaged a 2% per year increase.

Breneman Shultz voted against the sale over concerns that $50,000 per month will be required for three years during the transition period, with no revenue being collected during that time.

Police ask for help finding suspect in 3 business burglaries in Columbia

Police are asking for the public’s help to find a man they say burglarized three businesses in Columbia.
Borough police on Wednesday obtained a felony arrest warrant for 30-year-old Scott Allen Zercher, Det. Matt Leddy said in a press release.
Police say he broke into the Turkey Hill Experience, Pizza Hut, and Mike’s Diner, all of 301 Linden St. in Columbia, on June 11.

Hempfield resident wins suit to obtain district budget information

Hempfield School District must open its books to a resident who sued for more detailed budget information from the district administration.
The state Office of Open Records on Monday ruled in favor of Stephanie Rittenhouse, of Woodlyn Farm Way, who had requested individual budgets for the district’s individual schools, academic departments and operational divisions.
The district had refused the request, saying only the final budget — Form 2028, which must be filed with the state Department of Education — is public record.
In fact, Hempfield’s chief financial officer, Mary Lynne Kniley, told Rittenhouse at school board meetings that those budget documents do not exist.

Radio issue complicates fire merger in Columbia

The need to order new radios has dialed up the urgency surrounding the planned consolidation of Columbia borough’s three fire departments.
But it has also brought specifics about the consolidation — including whether all three departments will participate — into question.

Re: LASA – Council must do the right thing – Sell!

The time has come to consider a final decision on LASA. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the future solvency of the borough may be at stake. Simply put, the ad hoc committee’s final report recommends selling Columbia Borough’s sewer system assets to the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA). I hope the council will abide by the findings of the report – which it commissioned – and vote for the sale. I hope any council person voting against it will explain why, publicly. I don’t understand why the council would commission a report only to ignore it (if that, in fact, proves to be the case). Doing so would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.
I won’t rehash all the facts and figures here. That information is contained in the final report, which I posted previously HERE.
In regard to rates, we are competing with LASA, which comprises seven other surrounding municipalities.  This is a competition we cannot win and which may pull us under financially.
The borough’s debt, the empty storefronts, the property taxes that continue to go up and up and up are evidence enough of the need to regionalize and share costs. Selling to LASA could be the beginning of that process. Columbia can’t continue to bind itself to yesterday’s ideas in the foolish and outdated belief that we are self-sufficient. Let’s face it: it’s not the same town it was even 50 years ago. 
Regionalizing does not mean losing our identity. We’re talking about selling a sewer plant. That’s all. We’ll still have our rich history. Nothing can take that away.
We should cherish our history but look to the future. We are now at a crossroads, and the outcome of this decision will affect generations to come. Let’s affect them positively. Let this be the point where we turned things around for Columbia. 

With all that in mind, I, a lifelong Columbia resident, respectfully ask council to do the right thing. Look to the future. Sell the plant.

(Citizens can make their voices heard at the Municipal Authority meeting this coming Thursday, June 19 at 4:30 p.m., when a vote by the Authority on the LASA sale is expected to take place.

Citizens may also speak at the Committee of the Whole meeting this coming Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m., when a vote might take place.
Both meetings will be held at the Borough Office, 308 Locust Street.)