Columbia school board on April 21 approved a $150,000 technology services contract with Elanco to provide technology personnel. The agreement will be a cost-saving measure for Columbia and a revenue source for Elanco.
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Columbia commission formally affirms property as blighted
The Columbia Borough Planning Commission formally affirmed 208-210 Locust Street as blighted on Monday night, as part of the certification process laid out by the Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (LCHRA). The property, owned by Sam and Cynthia Bigler, was condemned last year when it was deemed unsafe due to loose and falling bricks and cracks in the front wall. The rear of the building was condemned in 2012 due to a bulging wall and associated roof issues.
According to Columbia Borough Code Enforcement Officer Jeffrey Helm, LCHRA gave the Biglers two opportunities to meet specific directives. When they failed to do so, LCHRA entertained a first and then a second determination of blight. At a recent Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC) meeting, the Biglers made an impassioned plea for a 60-day extension. The request was denied, and the commission voted unanimously to certify the property as blighted.
Columbia’s decision moves the process forward to the next level, which gives the owner ample opportunity to again meet demands defined by the LCHRA. On Tuesday night, the borough’s property committee moved to send the issue to full council for a vote at its June 13 meeting. Columbia Spy’s previous article on the process is HERE.
Under 35 P.S. § 1712.1(c), a blighted property in Pennsylvania must meet 1 of the following 11 criteria:
- Public nuisance
- Attractive nuisance to children
- Accumulation of trash and debris or haven for vermin
- Unfit for human habitation
- Fire hazard
- Lack of water, gas, or other utilities
- Tax delinquent for two years and vacant
- Vacant and not code compliant within a year of receiving notice of violations
- Abandoned property with municipal liens exceeding 150% of value
- Defective or unusual condition of title
- Environmentally hazardous conditions or contamination
In our area . . .
A few recent events:
Emergency crews responded to Plane and Manor Streets yesterday for a report of a person lying on the sidewalk. Personnel found a man lying there who appeared to be disoriented and possibly intoxicated. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
(Photos by Angel Rodriguez)
A passerby found what appeared to be a bag containing hypodermic needles yesterday afternoon in the Shawnee Run on Mill Street. This find might be one more bit of evidence of the reported heroin epidemic in Lancaster County. To help combat the problem, a community conversation on heroin abuse is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Jr/Sr High School.
(Photos by Angel Rodriguez)
A female motorist was injured when her minivan struck a utility pole and caught fire shortly after 7:30 Friday morning. The accident occurred on Route 441, between the Plane Street tunnel and the culvert near Blue Lane. The driver was reportedly taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
The trail is closed for paving – or is it?
According to several official sources, the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail was to have been closed from the Wrights Ferry Bridge to a point in Marietta for paving, as of last Wednesday, May 11. However, the trail has been open, unpaved, for the last few days, including today, Sunday, with no sign of paving equipment at either end – Columbia or Marietta. Many visitors having been taking advantage of the open, unpaved, trail.
This town is for the birds
Abundant wildlife thrives in our humble hamlet, among which is a great variety of bird species of many shapes and sizes. Most of the following photos were shot this weekend:
Smug starling with mouthful of mayflies
Yes, the Canada Geese are back at River Park.
Watch your step!
Six-pack
This bluebird took up temporary residence in one of the young bald cypress trees at Columbia River Park.
He glared at the camera.
And then turned his back.
Then glared again from atop a sign, looking crabby.
Apparently, the bluebird of happiness was having a bad day.
Some sort of shorebird – along the shore, of all places
Catbird
Lawbreaker
Osprey on the hunt
Dive!
Onward and downward!
Splashdown!
Unfortunately for him, it was a near miss.
Back at it
A little later, a great blue heron flew over.
These two vied for control of the skies.
Red-tailed hawk
Another shot
Bird on a wire – a male blue jay
The early bird gets the worm, and the early worm becomes breakfast.
Pigeon in a puddle
Later that afternoon, the osprey’s efforts paid off. He was carrying a hapless bass (or some other kind of sunfish) over the river.
(This photo was shot through the windshield of a moving car with a point and shoot.)
About Town
Recent photos from around town . . .
Complaining to management
On hold
Domicile deconstruction after last fall’s fire
Removing damaged beams from the November 4, 2015 blaze that engulfed several row homes on the 300 block of Walnut Street.
Rolling out the roof Salem United Church of Christ, 324 Walnut Street
Weighted down
What was that number again?
The recently planted bald cypress trees are doing well at Columbia River Park.
Fishing lesson
Coffee and Conversation with Senator Ryan P. Aument
According to the Columbia Borough website, Coffee and Conversation with Senator Ryan P. Aument 36th District will be held May 24, 2016, 9 am to 11 am at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA 17512
Light Refreshments will be available for visitors.
Parole Violation Warrant | Columbia Borough Police Department
Michael Horn
On 05-13-16 Michael Horn (33) of Columbia was picked up on a parole violation warrant at 3rd St. and Cherry St.
Summer Art Camp planned for Columbia
The Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts, in collaboration with Columbia Borough, will offer a Summer Art Camp for ages 8 to 18 beginning Monday, June 13.
At its April 11 meeting, Columbia Borough Council voted to allocate $3,900 to fund the program.
Borough moves forward on impaired Locust Street building
208-210 Locust Street
Columbia Borough recently filed a blighted property application with the Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (LCHRA) to place 208-210 Locust Street on a blighted property list. (The building’s front wall was deemed in danger of collapse last summer, and steps were taken to secure it.) The process requires LCHRA to receive certification from the Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC). LCPC recently approved moving forward with the certification. The Columbia Borough Planning Commission must also act on the issue, according to Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz.
If the Columbia Borough Planning Commission approves the certification, LCHRA will seek to purchase the property from owners Sam and Cynthia Bigler. If an agreement of sale cannot be reached and the owners do not sell to another entity, the property will be listed as blighted, and LCHRA will sell it to a party who will meet the conditions for redevelopment of the property.
If at any time during the process the owners present a certified plan to remediate the property – with signed engineering drawings and an approved timeline in accordance with the demands of LCHRA – they will be able to do so.
“Remember, it’s difficult to take a property,” Lutz said. “People who own property do have rights, but the municipality also has rights.”
Columbia Spy 