Columbia Spy

The cost to create the 5-mile trail has not yet been determined, but Strohecker guessed it could cost upward of $10 million, a cost township officials can’t afford on their own. He said grant dollars to cover project costs will be aggressively pursued.

“We know this is going to be difficult,” Strohecker said.

That’s true, in part, because trail construction would require easements through privately owned properties, he said. Much of that property, he said, is owned by Norfolk Southern.

Columbia Borough Council met in an unannounced executive session last week and appointed police chief Jack Brommer its second interim borough manager in as many months.

The Feb. 18 meeting raised compliance issues under Pennsylvania’s Sunshine act, according to Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

Kylie and Daisy are just two of KPets nearly 500 service animals, helping people in various circumstances across our area.

“This type of thing, they’re experiencing all sorts of stress and trauma and they just need something for their minds to relax and calm down. So, the dogs have a therapeutic effect on them and I think it’s becoming more and more aware that they need self care for themselves,” KPets founder Karen Gerth said.

• When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Feb. 20.
• What happened: The board approved the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center’s proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year. The district will contribute $488,700, up 14% from the current school year.
• Overview: Under its proposed budget, the career center projects revenues of $21.82 million, up 4.0% from this year and predicts $21.82 million in expenses, up 9.0% from the current year. A vast majority of the center’s revenue — roughly 66.41% — comes from direct contributions from school districts that utilize its various educational services. A total of 16 districts will contribute more than $14 million to fund the center’s daily operations.