Columbia Spy

The meeting packet is HERE.

The meeting packet is HERE.

PA Senator Ryan Aument has announced that his office was recently notified that the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) approved $1 million in state funding to Columbia Borough to renovate a 16,000 square foot prefabricated metal building into its public works facility on the 1100 block of Ridge Avenue. Columbia Borough purchased the property in August 2023 for $1,350,000 (plus $50,000 for a right-of-way). The total cost of the project has been estimated at $2 million, in addition to the purchase price.

Specifically, the renovations will include a new roof, new coating of exterior corrugated metal, replacement of bay doors, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and an addition of 2,500 square feet for offices, locker rooms, and restrooms.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority is an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development that administers many of Pennsylvania’s economic development and community improvement programs.

The backstory on the project is HERE.

[Sources: Press release, Columbia Spy]

Snyder Robert W, Snyder Gale L, Burke Stephen, Burke Stephen J, Burke Christine M. conveyed 1114 Lancaster Ave. to Frank J. Doutrich for $76,500.

John W. Hopkins conveyed 118 S. Ninth St. to Zoe Zambito for $154,000.

Mtglq Investors LP conveyed 1081 Cloverton Drive to Nathaniel Kroninger for $176,000.

Gordon J. Tolson conveyed 1260 Cloverton Drive to Seibert Megan, Motter Garrison Reese for $302,057.

 This week’s photos of Columbia 

(Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.)

The fat guy’s back, and we haven’t even gotten to the turkey yet.

Other items at the Re-Uzit Shop . . .

Here’s another Santa, taller and slimmer

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Flags at the Moose 

USGS monitor at Columbia River Park 

Almost done

An inquisitive “bird” at the Lloyd Mifflin House 

How to keep your outhouse from blowing away

(Seen at the Creswell Landfill)

The menu at Coffee & Cream

A smidge of the bridge 

The arch at the Shannon Armory 

A lead abatement in progress . . .

Halloween’s still hanging around. 

A lone squash, alone

New tattoo parlor in town

One of Columbia’s ornate doorways

Leftover skulls

A cat luxuriating in the sun

And the race is on!

Stringing the lights!

Police activity on South 2nd

Figurehead 

Park your truck, block the road.

Sticker shock 

Harvest season is hanging on.

The head of a Santa 

At the tunnel

Workin’ on the railroad . . .

The Columbia Park Rangers tidied up the bridge plaza on Saturday. 

Thanks, Park Rangers!

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George Christopher’s, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, Nov. 16. Pass. No violations.

Inna’s Pierogi Shop, 15 N. Third St., Columbia, opening, Nov. 16. Pass. No violations.

King’s Butcher Shop, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, opening, Nov. 16. Pass. Food facility is offering for sale foods prepared in an unapproved private home. Sauerkraut being sold under the name of Kreative Kraut by The Sauerkraut Guy is from an unapproved source.

White Horse Produce, 15 N. Third St., Columbia, Nov. 9. Pass. Food facility is offering for sale foods prepared in an unapproved private home.

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/da/11617/post/dtf-joint-investigation-homeland-security-investigations-nets-284k-cocaine

LINK

Columbia Borough’s municipal tax rate is set to rise by 2 mills, bringing the current rate of 8 mills to 10 mills for 2025.

At Wednesday’s budget meeting, which lasted almost three and a half hours, council proposed the hike, which equates to a 25% increase. Another 2 mill hike is likely for 2026. Council will vote to advertise the 2025 budget at next Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The current 2 mill hike means that a property assessed at $100,000 will pay an extra $200 in taxes annually. The amount of the increase is found by multiplying .002 x a property’s assessed value.

The archived livestream of the meeting, which was unfortunately plagued by audio problems, is posted at the borough’s YouTube channel: @columbiaborough9889

The budget sheets are HERE.