The link to the agenda is HERE.
Wreaths Across America at Mount Bethel, December 16
Video: Columbia Borough Council Meeting – December 12, 2023
Mourn the Dead, Fight Like Hell for the Living
SCAM ALERT: Caller Claiming to be Deputy, Demands Money | Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office
Columbia Borough school board reelects president
When: Columbia school board reorganization and committee meeting, Dec. 5.
What happened: Charles Leader and Lauren VonStetten were reelected as president and vice president, respectively. Both have served in their leadership positions since 2019.
More: In addition, Michael Burke was sworn in as a new board member. After being elected in November, Cole Knighton resigned from the board. Columbia is accepting applications for his position. Eligible individuals must submit a letter of interest to the school board by 4 p.m. Dec. 12 to be considered.
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Agenda – Columbia Borough Council Meeting – December 12, 2023
New ‘Deck the Bikes’ event is now taking entries in Wrightsville, Pa.
Wrightsville’s first-ever Christmas Deck the Bikes 2023 competition is being organized by Wright on the River, a group of Wrightsville citizens. This inaugural event is an effort to increase awareness of local Trail Towns, creating a sense of community within Wrightsville and among the other York County Trail Towns, as well as with the Trail Towns across the bridge, such as Columbia, Marietta and Quarryville.
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Columbia Borough Council weighs spending options on parking to receive reimbursement from grant
When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Dec. 5.
What happened: The borough must spend $500,000 on parking or economic development to receive a $1.5 million reimbursement from a Pennsylvania grant program.
Quotable: Borough Manager Mark Stivers noted the irony to council members. “WE ARE IN A TIGHT BUDGET — AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SPEND MONEY,” he said.
Finances: Council plans to take the needed $500,000 from reimbursement dollars once it receives them.
Background: The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, a state grant program, awarded Columbia $1.75 million in August 2019 to renovate the Columbia Market House and provide additional downtown parking or economic purchases or construction.
More: The borough agreed to match the state money with an additional $1.75 million from the 2016 general obligation bond proceeds. Paperwork committed Columbia to refresh and reopen the Market House, and to work on parking at Columbia River Crossing.
Dilemma: Recent structural problems on the Veterans Memorial Bridge, which links Columbia to Wrightsville, have delayed a planned $79 million renovation until 2025, according to the state Department of Transportation. The borough can’t start its own project at Columbia Crossing until PennDOT finishes, Stivers said.
Quotable: “We just don’t feel comfortable waiting that long,” Stivers said during a Dec. 6 phone call. However, the state won’t reimburse Columbia at all until council decides what construction it will do, and how much that will cost.
Specifics: Council members must decide how to spend almost $237,000 — the amount earmarked for parking at Columbia River Crossing.
More: Council members suggested repairing the roof of the Market House, fixing a timepiece on the clock tower that is five minutes off, and assisting costs for property owners who agree to put in a paved parking space behind their homes.
Also on the list: In addition, staff recommended projects that include buying license plate readers for parking enforcement, purchasing equipment and software to enforce ParkMobile, putting up three “Welcome to Columbia” signs plus a digital information sign at Columbia River Park, and providing parking. Another project would make Borough Hall and the Market House accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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[LNP | LancasterOnline] Columbia United Methodist Church hosts annual Secret Santa event
For Jim Walk, playing Santa Claus at Columbia United Methodist Church’s annual Secret Santa shopping event is a matter of family tradition.
“When my dad was alive, when I was a younger kid, he used to play Santa,” at other events, said Walk, 68. “My sisters are saying ‘Wow, you’re taking over for dad.’ So here I am, like, ‘Dad, this is for you!'”
Walk and Mrs. Claus — played by fellow Columbia resident Sally Draper, 75 — were two of the roughly 30 volunteers who set up the church for the event, during which children can pick out holiday gifts. Organizers expected up to 100 kids to participate.
“You got games, stuffed animals, matchbox cars, I mean, pretty much everything,” said Tom Grubbs, who has been the church’s pastor for eight years.
Volunteers guided children through the options as their families waited in another room. Kids were allowed to choose as many gifts as they desired, with each priced at an affordable $1.50. Volunteers also wrapped each present.
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Columbia Spy 