Columbia Spy

When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Sept. 24.

What happened: The borough took two additional steps to transform the McGinness Airport property into the McGinness Innovation Park. Council members first expressed interest in creating a technology center and then selling it in 2017, but the borough abandoned the idea until 2020, according to previous council meeting minutes.

First step: Council members voted to record the final subdivision plan with new property deeds for the 41.4-acre technology center and a 14.5-acre recreation space now that the Lancaster County and Columbia Borough planning commissions have given their approval.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-borough-takes-2-steps-toward-transforming-property-into-mcginness-innovation-park/article_a3a9661e-7ce3-11ef-9d0b-6b17a665b0f5.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

According to eyewitness reports, several Columbia Borough police vehicles chased a vehicle south on 3rd Street to Locust Street at about 7 p.m. Friday. Reportedly, the vehicle jumped the curb in front of Hinkle’s Restaurant as it turned down Locust Street to 2nd Street. Police pulled the vehicle over and apprehended the driver at the corner of 2nd & Locust. The vehicle was then towed from the scene. During the chase, several pedestrians were walking in the area due to Fourth Friday events. The vehicle is shown on the corner in the video. No further information is available at this time.

The Veterans Memorial Bridge between Columbia in Lancaster County and Wrightsville in York County will be closed for about 15 minutes tonight, starting at 7 p.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

Tonight’s closure is needed so a contractor can install jacks beneath the Wrightsville side of the bridge. Delays are expected.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/veterans-memorial-bridge-will-close-for-15-minutes-tonight-for-interim-repairs/article_551c67e6-7c23-11ef-915d-db0e525fc2e1.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Steven Kaufhold was sworn in as Columbia’s new borough manager at Tuesday’s borough council meeting. Also, council voted to name Kaufhold as sectetary/treasurer for the borough.

Council had voted to hire Kaufhold as borough manager at its September 10, 2024 meeting, contingent on background check and drug screening, at a starting salary of $100,000/year.

Kaufhold was code compliance manager for Columbia Borough from January 2017 to January 2019. According to his résumé, he was more recently project manager/estimator for Lancaster County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities.

Kaufhold replaces former borough manager Mark Stivers, whose resignation was announced in June 2024.

Nora Motter Stark, a board member of Create Columbia, accepts a $250 donation from Rob Kedney on Tuesday for the town square project. Kedney is associated with Thrivent, a not-for-profit financial services organization. The funds will be put towards maintaining the town square. There will be a ribbon cutting for Thrivent this coming Friday at 470 Locust Street.

The meeting packet is HERE.

When: Columbia school board meeting, Sept. 19.

What happened: The Columbia Borough school board now has two vacancies to fill, after Business Manager Keith Ramsey announced the resignation of board member Michael Burke.

More: The board dismissed former board member Ryan Sexton at its Sept. 3 meeting, due to six unexcused absences.

Next steps: The district has 30 days to fill the two vacancies. Interested Columbia residents who are at least 18 years of age and have resided in the borough for at least one year can visit the website for more information and to apply for a position. Letters of interest may be delivered to the school district office by 3 p.m. on Sept. 27, after which candidates will be interviewed and selected at the Oct. 1 committee meeting. The appointed individuals will serve through Dec. 1, 2025.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/2-seats-now-vacant-on-columbia-borough-school-board/article_7a8b21f8-79d4-11ef-a0d1-0f1b08095ec1.html

Delgiorno Investments LLC conveyed 250 N. Third St. to Zook Rentals LLC for $335,000.

Anderson Joshua T, Anderson Samantha N. conveyed 571 Walnut St. to Joshua T. Anderson for $1.

Fay S. Griffith conveyed 503 Manor St. to Griffith Ray E, Griffith Fay S. for $1.

Mark D. Motter conveyed 647 Locust St. to Jesse Ross for $133,500.

Onasch Caleb L, Onasch Molly M, Bruner Robert W. conveyed 322 S. Second St. to Lind Ilona K, Ilona K. Lind Family Trust for $200,000.

Ana Tufano conveyed 930 Spruce St. to Damaris Estrella for $180,000.

 This week’s photos of Columbia

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

Residents at Columbia Curiosities 

West Hempfield was in town again.

Expectant birds built a nest – at the pregnancy center!

You Got This on the 500 block of Walnut

A new business about to appear?

Tis the season. 

Interim bridge repairs have begun . . .

What about the weight limit?

Men at work

At least the bridge is still good for graffiti. 

Painting at the Wrights Ferry Mansion

Painting at the curb

Sidewalk installation, etc. on the 300 block of Locust . . .

Shouldn’t there be an ADA ramp here?

[Submitted photo]

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Cloudy skies 

UPS going to HIA

A few sights at Tollbooth . . .

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A mighty big hornets’ nest in Avenue H

This slid off at Mount Bethel

You must stop at this mattress.

Will this be moved or demolished?

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