School board doesn't pass budget, citing ELANCO snub – but extends agreement

The Columbia School Board unanimously declined to pass a 2017-18 budget Thursday night, citing uncertainty over the shared services agreement with ELANCO. However, the board passed an amended motion for an extension until September 30, 2017. The current agreement was scheduled to expire June 30.  Much of the proposed budget assumes continuing the agreement, which includes services from ELANCO’s superintendent, business manager, and technology personnel. So far, ELANCO’s board president has been unresponsive, according to several Columbia board directors.

In considering passage of the amendment for an extension, directors noted ELANCO’s lack of engagement and that an extension might not solve the problem if ELANCO does not approve the agreement.

Vice-president Charles Leader said the budget is based on having the agreement. “As of right now, we don’t have the agreement,” he said.

ELANCO Superintendent Robert Hollister said the ELANCO board is comfortable with the extension proposed in the evening’s agenda, which takes the agreement until September 30. “The Eastern Lancaster County Board has had the information and is still mulling it over,” Hollister said. “My assumption is they have been waiting until the end of the year to review that.”
Board director Rachael Kedney expressed frustration about ELANCO’s lack of response, however. “We’ve done our part, but there’s been no engagement,” she said. “We’re trying to do as a board what’s responsible for Columbia Borough, and I’m very disappointed that we’re not receiving anything from ELANCO. It concerns me that we’re not able to have everything we need to approve a budget because of a lack of conversation.”

Director Vickie Anspach also noted the problems with passing a budget. “It is difficult to make this decision especially with ELANCO’s board not giving us a final decision yet.”

Board president Keith Combs concurred with board directors. “We’ve not heard anything back although we’ve done our due diligence,” Combs said. He suggested pushing the envelope and having Columbia board members meet with ELANCO’s board president and solicitor before Columbia’s committee of the whole meeting in August. Combs said he would like an answer before the end of three-month extension.

Board director Barry Ford cited concerns with allowing the agreement to die. “If this agreement expires, we’re going to have to look for a superintendent, a business manager, technology people – and we can’t afford that,” he said. Ford said the September 30 extension would allow more time for negotiations.

But board director Kathy Hohenadel said continuing with extensions might not accomplish the goal. “We risk getting into that dangerous ‘let it flow, let it flow, let it flow,'” she said. Hohenadel also said Columbia’s efforts to give better direction to this partnership have gone unanswered by ELANCO. “Quite honestly, the president of the ELANCO board has been unresponsive,” she said. “How do we know if we let it go to September 30 that we’re going to any point in time get even a return phone call to our board president from the ELANCO board president? When do we say we need the courtesy of an answer from the board?”

Hollister noted that the ELANCO board will meet Monday, June 19 – the last opportunity to extend the deadline until next month’s meeting.

Combs urged passing the extension: “I don’t want to see this thing run out in two weeks, and Columbia Borough is left scrambling looking for multiple positions to fill before the next school year.”

Ford cautioned about the dangers of losing the agreement altogether. “If we don’t have this agreement, we can put the ‘for sale’ sign on the door,” he said.

After discussion, the board passed an amended motion for an extension, with the stipulation that subsequent extensions not be allowed. All directors present voted for the motion – except Leader, who voted no. Directors Cole Knighton and Jenna Geesey were absent.

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Clydesdales get prepped for bridge crossing into Columbia

A team of Budweiser Clydesdales got harnessed and ready to thunder through Wrightsville and into Columbia yesterday. Several 50-foot trailers carried the team of eight “Heavy Horses” to the John Wright Restaurant where they were prepped for their journey through Wrightsville and across the Veterans Memorial Bridge. The Anheuser-Busch horses were stabled at Brewery Products, 1017 North Sherman Street, York, last week.
Studebaker wagons were originally converted to deliver beer.

Mature Clydesdales weigh between 1600 and 2400 pounds.

A Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least four years old and stand 18 hands (six feet) tall.


Each harness and collar weighs about 130 pounds. 

Dalmatians have traveled with the Clydesdale hitch since the 1950s. The Dalmatian’s original purpose was to guard the hitch (and protect the beer) as the driver made his beer deliveries.

The 40 pounds of reins the driver holds, plus the tension of the reins, equals 75 pounds.

The Clydesdales leave the parking area of the John Wright Restaurant.

Car Show Today

Come take a walk down memory lane with vintage cars, great music, good friends, and great food in this collaborative effort of the Columbia Lions Club and SVCC. Held on Locust Street in downtown Columbia, this event features show awards, with numerous trophies to be awarded including Best of Show and People’s Choice. Oldies music will serve as a backdrop for a fun-filled day that runs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Admission for spectators is free.Contact SVCC at 717-684-5249 for more information.

Help us feed and provide recreational opportunities for Columbia’s children! Entrants are asked to bring at least two (2) non-perishable food items as a donation when they either pick up their pre-registration packets or when they arrive on the show day. We’ll see that these are donated to the Columbia Food Bank. A share of the proceeds from this car show will be given to a variety of local non-profit organizations including Hospice and veterans’ organizations that provide military honors. A portion of the proceeds from Thunder on the River Car Show will also support the Columbia Lions Club Vision Program and the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.

Free HIV Tests in Columbia for National HIV Testing Day at Family First Health

On Wednesday, June 28th, Family First Health will offer free and confidential HIV tests from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at the Family First Health Columbia Center, 369 Locust Street in Downtown Columbia, as part of National HIV Testing Day. These tests are available to members of the community ages 13 and up and take only 10 minutes to complete after a quick finger prick. For more information or questions, please call 717-846-6776. HIV testing is recommended for everyone between the ages of 13 and 64.

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to encourage people of all ages to “Test Your Way, Do it Today.” Early HIV diagnosis is critical, so people who are infected can fully benefit from available life-saving treatments. Currently, one in seven people in the United States are not aware they are HIV positive and the only way to know if you are positive is to get tested. Finding out whether you have HIV is the first step to improving your health, the health of your partners and family, and the health of your community.

People who are HIV positive have unique needs and challenges in accessing medical care, case management and other services. Caring Together, a collaborative partnership of Family First Health and WellSpan Health, provides a seamless system of coordinated, high quality care for people who are HIV positive so they can easily access the services they need.

Clients or medical providers can contact the Program Manager, Rebecca Wilson, at 846-6776 Ext. 4855 to find out more information or to schedule an intake. Upon intake nurses will assess the client’s needs, schedule a medical appointment and contact other Caring Together team members who will provide other services as needed.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health care, dental care and social services at sites in Adams, Lancaster, and York Counties. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the Web site at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.