Columbia artist Mark Kise is accepting new clients and commissions
Mark Kise painted this mural of Columbia poet and painter Lloyd Mifflin on the rear wall of the Foresters building, facing the Columbia Historic Preservation Society. The mural was completed in 2014.
Columbia artist Mark Kise is currently accepting new clients and commissions. Kise has been the proprietor of Kise Signs since 1972, which provides the following services:
- Computer generated vinyl graphics for truck, farm & fire applications
- Hand lettering, gold leaf, pinstripes,wall murals & sign systems
- Murals
- Logo Design
- Graphics
- Banners
- Graphic Design
Contact Mark Kise HERE.
Agenda – Columbia Borough Council Meeting – August 12, 2025
The Columbia Market House is losing money; council considers cutbacks
JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY
The Columbia Market House costs taxpayers more than the revenue it generates because it operates as both a market and an event venue, according to borough officials.
Columbia Borough Council discussed the financial viability of the market house during its August 7 workshop, with several members questioning whether the facility should continue functioning as both entities.
Councilman Eric Kauffman expressed concerns about the market house’s profitability. “I’ve tried so many different ways to justify the market house actually being profitable. Quite honestly I think it’s very hard,” Kauffman said.
Kauffman noted that the borough employs a full-time market manager (Bonnie Link) to cover events that often cost more than what they generate in revenue. He pointed to weddings as a particular example, explaining that while events require setup and teardown time, the borough only charges for about four hours of actual event time.
“We’re paying a full-time market manager to do events, and the events are costing us more than what they’re worth,” Kauffman stated. “If you start raising the value of events, you’re going to lose customers.”
As an alternative, Kauffman proposed scaling back operations to employ only a part-time market manager and focus solely on running the facility as a market rather than an event venue. “I don’t see it being a venue and being successful,” he said. “I think it’s very costly to be a venue.”
In May 2022, council was poised to vote on creating a part-time market manager position for 28 hours a week at $20 an hour, but Kauffman voiced concern that 28 hours was not enough to do the job successfully and $20 an hour was too low. Kauffman persuaded council to go with a full-time manager instead, which it did in a 6-1 vote. Councilwoman Sharon Lintner was the only no vote.
Councilwoman Barbara Fisher supported the part-time manager idea, recalling that she had originally suggested this approach when the position was first discussed. “I do think it could possibly work part-time,” Fisher said. She also voted to hire a full-time manager in 2022.
Mayor Leo Lutz agreed with Kauffman’s assessment, stating, “You’re right. We’re probably losing money on this.” Lutz also concurred that wedding events were causing staff burnout due to the long hours required.
Councilman Todd Burgard questioned the feasibility of the current model, saying, “I don’t understand how it can be both [market and events venue]. I don’t think it’s conducive to be both things at one time.”
Kauffman suggested limiting events to no more than four per month at four hours each, which would keep staffing within part-time parameters and keeping Saturdays for market operations.
Councilman Peter Stahl proposed a different approach, suggesting the borough enter into a commercial agreement with a restaurant or company that would rent and manage the space independently. However, Kauffman expressed reservations about allowing an outside entity to run borough properties.
Resident Sharon Lintner suggested that the borough hire two part-time managers instead of one full-time position to avoid paying benefits while ensuring adequate coverage.
Kauffman and Lutz noted that the market house is also unfairly competing with local businesses. “I have a problem with the market house trying to be a market and being an event holder – then we’re taking business from our other businesses,” Kauffman said.
Council President Heather Zink reminded council that financial losses were anticipated from the beginning. “I just want everyone to keep in mind that we knew going into this, it was never going to be profitable,” Zink said. “We were always going to lose money on this, that’s why CHI was willing to give the borough $65,000 a year because they knew that’s how much it was going to lose.”
Columbia Spy previously covered the CHI (Catholic Health Initiative) agreement HERE, which commenced in March 2019 and was initially set to run for five years. However, CHI terminated the agreement early, ending their involvement at the end of June 2022.
Columbia Borough Council hears ideas for former McGinness property
Commercial realtor Kevin Wolfe addressed Columbia Borough Council Thursday night at the August 7 workshop and presented options for the former McGinness property.
Data Center
Wolfe said a data center at the site is basically a no-go. According to Wolfe’s assessment, the lack of available electrical power prohibits this type of development. He said that substations in the area surrounding Columbia are maxed out, and a power diagnosis from PPL would cost the borough about $185,000. “For the size of the site and the amount of power that’s available, I just frankly don’t think it’s worth the borough’s time and effort to spend the money to do the power study and go down that route,” Wolfe explained.
He said that pursuing a data center would require extensive and costly power upgrades that would not justify an investment.
Industrial
The property’s current zoning as “light business” poses restrictions for potential industrial uses. Wolfe noted that warehousing and distribution facilities would be “very hard to achieve on the site” due to both zoning limitations and access constraints.
Recreational
One promising avenue is recreational development, however. Wolfe said that ongoing discussions with athletics clubs suggest that such organizations might be looking for land, but this option comes with financial trade-offs. While recreational facilities could provide some benefits, “they typically can pay the least amount of money that any other use can pay” in terms of generating tax revenue for the borough.
Retail
Perhaps the most financially attractive option is retail development, according to Wolfe. He said that multiple offers in the $2-3 million range have already been received for the property, with “big box grocery stores” and other retailers expressing interest in expanding into the area.
The retail sector presents both opportunities and challenges, Wolfe noted. While the site may have lower vehicle traffic counts and visibility compared to prime retail locations, it could succeed as a “destination retail” location rather than relying on impulse shoppers and high visibility.
“If it’s there, it can be had for a reasonable number, I think there’s likely some uses that you could use,” Wolfe noted, suggesting that the right retail venture could thrive at the location.
Office Space
Office development also remains on the table. Wolfe said that success will require “some significant marketing” regardless of which direction the borough ultimately chooses.
Conclusion
“There’s a couple different avenues that I believe could be successful for this site,” Wolfe said. “I think the office, the retail and even the recreational avenue, whether it be a park, an athletic facility, a golf course, whatever it might be, all are going to require some significant marketing.”
Columbia Borough Council answers questions from residents about hiring of managers | Community News | lancasteronline.com
- TRAVIS MUELLER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE
When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Aug. 7.
What happened: Council has interviewed one candidate for the position of borough manager so far, Heather Zink, president, said, responding to questions from residents Sharon Lintner and Frank Doutrich about the hiring process for borough and finance managers.
Background: In May, council ratified the termination of Michelle Jenkins as finance manager. Barbara Fisher, council member, said an independent contractor and the borough bookkeeper have been handling the extra work until a finance manager is hired. In September, Steven Kaufhold will retire from his position as borough manager.
Hiring authority: Zink clarified that council interviews and hires a borough manager. Council approves a finance manager and that person’s salary, but the borough manager is the hiring authority for that position.
Hiring process: The hiring pool for municipal management positions is low, Zink said, adding that other municipalities have had difficulty hiring similar positions. People have applied but few meet the qualifications, Mayor Leo Lutz said. There have been discussions about internal candidates or promotions from within, he said.
MORE:
Restaurant Inspections – Columbia Borough – August 8, 2025
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King’s Country Flavorites, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, Aug. 2. Pass. Prepackaged pickled red beets are not properly labeled with the ingredient statement, net weight and distribution statement. Labels for all prepackaged foods are missing the name and address/distributed-by statement; repeat violation. Observed single-service, single-use articles (to-go containers) stored directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor. Ice and plant clippings observed in the hand-wash sink. The facility has a double-bowl sink and has designated which side will be used for hand-washing only, however, it continues to use the hand-wash sink for uses other than hand-washing; repeat violation.
Li’l Stacks Pa, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, opening, Aug. 2. Pass. Observed raw shell eggs stored directly on top of sodas in the refrigerator. Prepackaged fruit cups and chocolate Dubai strawberry cups are not labeled properly with the distributed by statement and address. The food facility does not maintain food employee certification records as required. The owner is registered to take a food safety course. The food facility does not have a food safety manager, however, is registered to attend a food safety course.
On The Bun, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, Aug. 2. Pass. No violations.
The Candy Hut, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, Aug. 2. Pass. Prepackaged assorted cookies, whoopie pies, doughnut holes, cotton candy, Chex Mix, and chocolate-covered pretzel sticks are not labeled properly with the name of the product, ingredient statement, net weight, and distributed-by statement. Prepackaged assorted cookies, whoopie pies, donut holes, cotton candy, Chex Mix, and chocolate-covered pretzels are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 9” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Observed a scouring pad and a rag inside the hand-wash sink.
Orientiq, 22 S. Second St., Columbia, Aug. 1. Pass. Observed a container of coffee machine cleaner stored on a shelf with bags of food.
Halo’s Eatery, 301 Cherry St., Columbia, opening, July 29. Pass. No violations.
Lancaster Distilleries, 230 N. Fourth St., Columbia, July 29. Pass. No violations.
St John’s Herr Estate, 200 Luther Lane, Columbia, July 29. Pass. Prepackaged soup and assorted sandwiches are not labeled properly with the ingredient statement and distributed-by statement. Prepackaged soup and assorted sandwiches are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 9” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Can opener in kitchen is creating metal slivers and not cutting the can surface effectively.
Columbia Borough requires a permit for any outdoor fire, including those in fire pits
Outdoor Fire Pit Permit Application
§ 117-4 Fires on private property; restrictions.
Outdoor fires shall be permitted upon private property, provided that the following regulations and restrictions are strictly adhered to:
A. Every resident wishing to burn an outdoor fire shall first make application to the Borough of Columbia.
B. Applications shall be inspected and approved by the Columbia Borough Fire Chief or his/her designee.
C. Once approved, the outdoor fire device shall not be relocated or replaced without reapplication, inspection and approval.
D. Permits are valid for one year unless covered by Subsection C.
E. An application fee determined by Columbia Borough Council shall be set by resolution and listed in the
Columbia Borough Fee Schedule.
F. Every outdoor fire shall be burned in, and confined to, a noncombustible, ventilated container covered with a screen of 1/2 inch or smaller mesh or with other noncombustible containers or incinerators.
G. Every resident must have an approved extinguishment agent on-site and operational at all times when the fire is burning.
H. No such fire shall be closer than 10 feet from any building or structure.
I. No fire is allowed to burn upon any day except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST.
J. No such fire shall be allowed to burn unless attended by an adult.
K. In addition to this chapter, outdoor fires shall be subject to the conditions of the following ordinances:
(1) Chapter 126, Health and Sanitation, Article IX, Miscellaneous Regulations, § 126-40, Nuisances.
(2) Chapter 181, Solid Waste, § 181-9, Illegal dumping and open burning.
Agenda—Columbia Borough Council Workshop—August 7, 2025
The meeting packet is HERE.
Deeds Recorded – Columbia Borough – August 5, 2025
Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 643 Franklin St. to Pope Calvin Francis, Pope Mariciel for $304,500.
Wayne R. Harnly conveyed 521 Concord Lane to J&J Rentals LLC for $115,000.
Cimarron Investments LLC conveyed 350 Locust St. to Martin Elizabeth H, Harnish Angela M. for $575,000.
Spina Audie, Spina Karen L. conveyed 1293 Hereford Drive to Benjamin B. Kulp for $386,500.
Columbia Spy 
