Columbia Spy

https://dailyvoice.com/pa/york/amber-alert-pedro-vega-rivera-took-baby-amiyah-rivera-psp/

Leaf Collection
Leaf collection will continue through Friday, December 12th following the street sweeping schedule.

Street Sweeper
Tentatively, the last day of street sweeping will be Friday, December 19th. This date is subject to change, depending on weather conditions.

Curbside Yard Waste Pick-up
The last day for curbside yard waste pick-up was Monday, November 10th. The yard waste recycling facility is open 8 am-12 pm the second Saturday of the month year-round.

Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with holidays in several countries, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which also occur on the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Nancy J. Ernst conveyed 107 Pheasant Drive to LL Properties LLC for $220,000.

Eric J. Snyder conveyed 300 Perry St. to PVJ Properties LLC for $145,000.

Thomas F. Hermansader conveyed property on Locust Street to Jaelyn Anderson for $239,900.

Michelle D. Ramos conveyed 450 Walnut St. to Alyssa Miller for $210,000.

Walk John K, Walk Samantha L. conveyed 613 S. 13th St. to Emily White for $259,900.

Red Canna LLC conveyed 365 S. Third St. to Witmer Reese D, Witmer Leighann for $206,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 301 N. Third St. to Sean Cobourn for $230,000.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Rick Breneman of Breneman Site Construction, who has been overseeing the McGinness remediation project for the borough, provided options for the future of the site at Thursday’s Columbia Borough Council Workshop. Breneman characterized the endeavor as “a tricky thing to navigate.”

(Breneman didn’t delve into the progress of remediation, except to say the project is expected to be done by Thanksgiving. Based on introductory remarks by Heather Zink, council president, he was asked to speak about the sealed bid process and restrictions, and how fast to proceed.)

Developers require 2-3 years for due diligence

Breneman explained to council that developers typically need 2-3 years for due diligence, permitting, and planning before construction begins, and they generally won’t pay for the property until they’ve secured development approval and identified tenants or buyers. He cited the Belmont Shopping Center as an example, which took eight years from concept to breaking ground.

Breneman also said that in the development industry, the due diligence period is when developers are creating conceptual designs and developing a budget for all costs of the project. “And then they’re going to look at what the return on investment is going to be,” Breneman said.

Borough zoning reduced the pool of developers

Breneman noted that the borough’s zoning change from housing to commercial/light industrial reduced the pool of potential developers. “And quite honestly, there has to be a demand. There has to be a demand for what it is that land is zoned for,” Breneman explained.

Two potential sales approaches

He discussed two potential sales approaches: a public auction (which likely won’t meet the borough’s financial expectations and could result in buyers sitting on the land), or working with the EDC’s proposed schedule (which will require negotiating on timelines and payment terms). 

Of the first option, Breneman said, “You can go down the road of public sale and advertise and see if there’s any interest, but my guess is that the interest you’re going to see, you’re not going to be happy with the return.” He emphasized that developers need flexibility on timelines, because they can’t afford to carry land costs for years without generating income

Over-55 housing

Breneman said council could also consider over-55 housing as an option, because it wouldn’t burden the school system and would expand the number of potential buyers. “That’s not a bad idea, because again instead of just looking at a group of people this big, it opens it up a little bit more and maybe makes it a little bit more appealing,” Breneman said.

Commercial realtor Kevin Wolfe presented options to council in August 2025.

In August, council heard from commercial realtor Kevin Wolfe, who laid out several options for the site, including data center, industrial, recreational, retail, and office space. Of those, only office, retail, and recreational were considered feasible and would require “significant marketing,” according to Wolfe.

This week’s photos of Columbia

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Down by the tracks and the bridge . . .

Even the Front Street mural features the bridge. 

The mural was designed by artist Cesar Viveros, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.

Volunteers helped paint it.

At Coffee & Cream 

This keeps getting worse (at Rotary Park).

A message at Columbia River Park 

Ghost pumpkins

Near miss

How not to spear a coworker 

Full moon

Evening clouds 

Left behind 

Back on track(s)

A Weber surveyor at South 9th & Avenue X

An apartment building is planned for the lot there.

Clouds and hints of clouds 

Iron Eagle was knocking down the treeline between the two runways at the former McGinness property. 

Rick Breneman, who is overseeing the project for the borough, gave a report to council at Thursday’s council workshop. He said the  project (remediation/stabilization)

is expected to be finished by Thanksgiving.

Any development of the property is at least 2-3 years out—if a developer is interested. 

Guess what’s coming soon.

###

Mayor of Columbia

Winner: Leo Lutz (Republican Party)

Leo Lutz: 51.62% (1,180 votes)

Jasmine Preston (Democratic Party): 48.38% (1,106 votes)

Columbia Borough Council 

Top vote-getters:

Jeanne Cooper (Democratic Party): 18.38% (1,172 votes)

Ethan Byers (Democratic Party): 17.18% (1,095 votes)

Thomas J Ziegler (Republican Party): 17.16% (1,094 votes)

Timothy L Swartz (Republican Party): 16.28% (1,038 votes)

Kyle Ricker (Democratic Party): 16.20% (1,033 votes)

Jesse Rabinowitz (Republican Party): 14.79% (943 votes)

School Director Columbia (Full Term)

Top vote-getters:

Sonya Duncan (Democratic Party): 15.30% (1,305 votes)

Thomas G Ziegler (Democratic Party): 15.17% (1,294 votes)

Elena Young (Democratic Party): 13.32% (1,136 votes)

Lester Putt (Democratic Party): 12.73% (1,086 votes)

Kellie Kauffman (Republican Party): 12.16% (1,037 votes)

School Director Columbia – 2 Year Term

Winner: Nathan Roach (Cross-Endorsed Candidate)

Nathan Roach received 100% of votes (1,655 votes)

Listed as Democratic Party / Republican Party candidate

This was an uncontested race.

Mayor
Jasmine Preston

Borough Council
Ethan Byers
Jeanne Cooper

Kyle Ricker

School Board
Sonya Duncan
Lester Putt
Nathan Roach
Elena Young
Thomas G. Ziegler

Vote YES to Retain Judges
Christine Donohue
Kevin Dougherty
David Wecht

Polling Locations

Columbia Borough 1st Ward

Columbia Borough Municipal Building

308 Locust St, Columbia

Columbia Borough 4th Ward

Columbia School Dist. Admin. Center

200 N. 5th St, Columbia

Columbia Borough 5th Ward

Saint Paul Episcopal Church

340 Locust St, Columbia

Columbia Borough 6th Ward

Victory Church

550 Linden St, Columbia

Columbia Borough 7th Ward

Columbia Animal Shelter

265 South 10th St, Columbia

Columbia Borough 9th Ward

Columbia Borough Fire Department

726 Manor St, Columbia

GUEST COMMENTARY [Name withheld by request out of fear of retaliation]

For two decades, Leo Lutz has occupied the mayor’s office in Columbia, and his supporters are quick to credit him with every positive development in our borough, but leadership is a two-way street. If Mayor Lutz is going to accept praise for Columbia’s successes, many of which, frankly, he had little direct involvement in, then he must also be held accountable for our failures.

The facts paint a troubling picture. Despite the mayor’s repeated assurances that our streets are safe, we’ve witnessed a disturbing rise in assaults, shootings, and vandalism. His promises have fallen by the wayside: the foot patrol we were promised never materialized, nor did the bike patrol that was supposed to increase our sense of security.

Fiscally, the situation is equally dire. Taxes have increased at least twice during Mayor Lutz’s tenure, yet the borough now finds itself millions of dollars in debt. This isn’t the record of effective stewardship. It’s a pattern of decline masked by rhetoric about prosperity.

There’s an inconvenient truth that property owners understand all too well: every time taxes rise, property values fall. That’s not prosperity; that’s a slow erosion of our community’s economic foundation.

Columbia needs vigorous, forward-thinking leadership. Instead, we have a mayor whose age and lengthy tenure raise legitimate questions about his ability to efficiently fulfill the demanding role ahead. 

He’s one of the last of the good old boys that unfortunately ran this town. If voters return him to office, we can expect more of the same: continued decline, mounting debt, and broken promises.

The choice before Columbia’s voters is clear: we can either maintain the status quo and watch our borough continue to deteriorate, or we can demand accountability and choose a new direction. 

Mayor Lutz has had 20 years to prove himself. The results speak for themselves.

Edmind A. Steffan Jr. conveyed 116 S. Sixth St. to Iglesia Yasnay Batista for $175,000.

D&R Charles Construction conveyed 1249 Avenue V to Greineder Zachariah D, Greineder Madison A. for $350,000.

The estate of Blumenshine Paul A. Est., Blumenshine Paul Allen conveyed 1338 Manor St. to Heidi J. Nikolaus for $100,000.

The estate of Ella A. Evrard conveyed 553 Walnut St. to Highmount Properties LLC for $126,000.

Eckerd Walter, Eckerd Thelma S, Eckerd Walter F. Jr., Eckerd Tammy L. conveyed 815 Locust St. to Lapps Investments LLC for $360,000.

Funk Timothy B, Funk Kimberly A. conveyed 1220 Stamans Lane to Columbia Borough for $50,000.

Columbia Borough conveyed property on a public road to Columbia Borough for $1.

Columbia Borough conveyed property on Ridge Avenue to Columbia Borough for $1.