[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6084054,"mediaKeyId","2923846-5818770b3b45712dfd834b26bf790b4b","parentId",2923846,"title","Columbia Borough Council approves payments, advertises CDBG project, raises yard-waste fee and authorizes sale of a dump truck","audioSeconds",773,"startMs",3041000,"endMs",3814000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2923846-5818770b3b45712dfd834b26bf790b4b&start=3041&end=3814","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2923846-5818770b3b45712dfd834b26bf790b4b/thumbnail_3041000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6084054/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Columbia-Borough-Council-approves-payments-advertises-CDBG-project-raises-yard-waste-fee-and-authorizes-sale-of-a-dump-truck","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084054-f54b1fdb87abae897f6d7ecd9da92c8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775898017&Signature=ZinVWlFpeO~uUNc2hE6TKesh27uJhBsNWtYEa9tTSkZp7kLDF-LJDVG5nwSm-0RL6tpFt6Gva6IVSUtQ1Zoqux9l8kJDJ99dzem~1KsOUdli~qdDlcDKRd6kNNai23SDNinL9b9busF~T2JDY2OmW6a3ZGxXs5zG3w4T7fttdrLIoNJXxL26l3fptTgoNls1IK5QBogKMA6rB05UrTEqq2-cllHKKS9nmDObXX29ZovaJLPLNhffbg67J-oh77h8xiP8S11rm2VcfhibhS8DGd3vWztv30-h53zExzBkGMvKhtaIL-XUDCmyTB99doBjMY7TxhbyBBKdohuyyd35OA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbia Borough, PA","date","2025-04-09T12:24:43Z","article","Columbia Borough Council took several routine and administrative actions at its April 8, 2025 meeting.

The council approved bill payments following a brief question about a workers’ compensation premium audit line item. Council then authorized staff to advertise the Walnut Street Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) improvements project covering the 900–1000 block of Walnut Street for public bids; the motion was presented as a standard CDBG procurement step and council approved it by voice vote.

Council approved updated yard-waste agreements reflecting a $5-per-ton increase (from $35 to $40 per ton) for all yard waste brought to the borough facility; the agreements had already been signed by participating municipalities and the council approved the borough’s signature.

The council adopted Resolution 2025-007 authorizing staff to sell by auction a 2001 Chevrolet dump truck that had been part of the borough fleet. Members of the public asked why the borough uses a dealer-only auction service (Enterprise) rather than offering vehicles for direct public sale; councilmembers responded that the fleet-management arrangement and dealer auction draw a larger market and typically return higher proceeds to offset lease payments for current fleet vehicles. The resolution passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

On minutes, Councilperson Mary Wickenhaus (planning commission chair) requested tabling of the Borough Council/Planning Commission joint meeting minutes from March 20, 2025; Councilperson Murphy moved to table and the motion passed. Other sets of minutes (council meeting minutes for March 27, 2025 and the April 1, 2025 workshop minutes) were approved.

No ordinances or budget appropriations were adopted at the April 8 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Borough Council 04.08.2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 8 meeting council approved bill payments, authorized advertisement of the Walnut Street CDBG improvement project for bids, approved updated yard-waste agreements raising the fee from $35 to $40 per ton, and adopted Resolution 2025-007 authorizing sale by auction of a 2002 Chevrolet dump truck; one set of joint minutes was tabled.","taxTitle","Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania","taxId",71545,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6084059,"Residents and council revisit parking study; mayor says parking garage costs may exceed $20,000 per space",296,750000,1046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2923846-5818770b3b45712dfd834b26bf790b4b&start=750&end=1046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2923846-5818770b3b45712dfd834b26bf790b4b/thumbnail_750000.jpg","/articles/6084059/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-and-council-revisit-parking-study-mayor-says-parking-garage-costs-may-exceed-20000-per-space","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084059-5ef486e330d115298f37c4515a84bcba/orig.mp4?Expires=1775898018&Signature=ISxVkFxFKygXHjo-nYDLpyjToEYige9WThPWufaud8K86EAlGXCll~umH1UoHcI1elsL5C0uKBC96HaDvoxZg-ijJzkbC-eveFhcpoHFF3vw~3CLIarfdDFGjNTDs7eWWUXexCtL8mKV0SVyisUVhAc8Av4ClCeyI3p8Qb36fDAy5EgFtnIzlaswyMiLNNbmhCFNHg~nPmnvwq1Rne0Plmh7YIoA7DryTLwNVOgjR~yMyiIwbrGQxRF-5yBD-BjBPRZ2SH4tw-WJDTIAi5mLnaIxUL-9xFYVHvhAmIy5gExXUDntu1Ez9tQ2WfjdyQqpKJRue0bTgq74pMShaEVBag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident who signed up during public comment asked whether the borough’s prior parking-structure study remains valid and what would be required to begin a parking garage project.

Mayor Billy Lutz said the study — completed in 2019 — estimated needs out to 20 years and remains usable. He said building a parking structure would require the borough to decide it wants the project, identify and possibly purchase a site, and secure substantial funding. “The figure that was quoted to them was over $20,000 per parking space,” Lutz said, and later repeated that figure as a conservative estimate.

Council members and staff said the borough has discussed grant and public–private partnership options. Councilmember Derek (surname not specified in the transcript) noted RACP funding the borough received was targeted “for downtown parking improvements” such as traffic flow, signage and meters — not for construction of a parking garage. The council indicated an updated feasibility assessment, site selection and funding strategy would be required before moving forward.

Resident questions also raised whether the borough could use existing surface lots to site a garage; council members said acquiring land or partnering with current lot owners would be part of any plan. No formal action or funding was approved at the April 8 meeting; councilmembers said the topic would remain on future workshop agendas.","A resident asked whether a prior parking-structure study is still valid; the mayor said the 2019 study estimated a long payback and that construction costs could exceed $20,000 per space; council clarified RACP funds are for downtown improvements, not a parking garage.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6084064,"Planning commission chair asks council to table joint zoning minutes, cites errors and outstanding zoning definitions",740,1129000,1869000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2923846-5818770b3b45712dfd834b26bf790b4b&start=1129&end=1869","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2923846-5818770b3b45712dfd834b26bf790b4b/thumbnail_1129000.jpg","/articles/6084064/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Planning-commission-chair-asks-council-to-table-joint-zoning-minutes-cites-errors-and-outstanding-zoning-definitions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084064-e2c09c8c5a07e790e386dec5b63568a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775898018&Signature=ScNVx5IEGyMsuq2hYpKcwANZtPb6PGMxRHvY0qh8jbDRhQrqjeCfnHEqOD1eblWz6QWzZZA~BO6LuvLG9R8AY3QlXATuXVbf5dTGtzSLCaj0Czhx3jRSDASPDZEbXVjMy-hq3PGLG0hXm8AYmnlQqTQBD4j1ljnv3Jf-xp~OUz5Lt9kl0uqVioap20G71W71xxgT81mxwplOW7VROfWqA6kT6QZPyTsXGi1rRXUq1ShXAWR1obdUNUNEuMtrjNfECDdv~Hb8K2QFjGmAF9a0kFei97j7wJ5D2nJxBCxpx6nhvUrg8cYUff1zohZ5-gboi7Xp42eExnIrgC8lbS7nhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mary Wickenhaus, chair of the Columbia Borough Planning Commission, asked Columbia Borough Council to table approval of the joint Council/Planning Commission minutes from the March 20 meeting, saying the draft minutes include errors and omit agreed edits to the zoning ordinance’s permitted-uses table and definitions.

Wickenhaus said the minutes reversed a decision the panel had made about target shooting ranges, noting “we wanted indoor is special exception and outdoor is not permitted.” She said the commission had also agreed to add definitions for data centers, and that other items discussed at the March 20 meeting — including medical marijuana references and changes to permitted uses — were not correctly reflected.

Wickenhaus urged additional review by the planning commission, said she had circulated a document summarizing the March 20 outcomes, and recommended the proposed ordinance changes be sent to Lancaster County Planning for the required review. She also said her commission thought the special-exception criteria could be finalized later so they would not delay the broader amendments.

A solicitor in attendance said nothing legally prevents advertising amendments that leave specific special-exception criteria to be resolved later, but added caution about that approach. Wickenhaus listed several items she said needed correction in the minutes: the indoor/outdoor classification for target ranges, package-delivery and warehouse special-exception language, a new data-center definition, removal of a 40% maximum building-coverage number (replaced by an 85% impervious-coverage cap), and a 20,000-square-foot minimum lot size.

Councilperson Murphy moved to table the joint meeting minutes; Councilperson Giese seconded the motion. The motion to table passed with all in favor.

Council and planning commission members said they will meet off-line as needed to finalize wording before re-submitting the minutes and the proposed zoning amendments for advertisement and Lancaster County review.","Mary Wickenhaus, chair of the Columbia Borough Planning Commission, asked council to table approval of the March 20 joint meeting minutes because they do not reflect agreed changes to the permitted uses table and definitions; council voted to table the minutes.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6084069,"Mayor, transit authority say Third and Locust bus shelter removed after safety and vagrancy concerns",2405,249000,2654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2923846-5818770b3b45712dfd834b26bf790b4b&start=249&end=2654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2923846-5818770b3b45712dfd834b26bf790b4b/thumbnail_249000.jpg","/articles/6084069/Columbia/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Mayor-transit-authority-say-Third-and-Locust-bus-shelter-removed-after-safety-and-vagrancy-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084069-8e3c394c36291d26d6f6c103aea2b60a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775898018&Signature=bY2lTdixx9FKYrzS5TgFVGINtk9M0cbkXGFvyyB2WVnOrGUGEbLZ5SVz7PhPtNKEiPl5ijGVNUWXrT2h~cO9Z5AkpWgeTlt60YD9GQ3Os62ErO04Mry07MMsgVBanv88iR36N0d8igGiEIQKjBxMxYJlvJKuDQobQQ-Z-0sUbiUuUJvimo8vk0e5EfiiFvjkqrXVUzq2MxeILbhSx3tVnW0AJWqNCOcCzJtfHdoxOTeDxEkhYcNQb1t2ACHuSOvtAYGRys9BZZYMtgs2J1iJv0ze4w0a2~p0qRB5dKSF9uHNEkWEighQgFE~yFZf3DCaha76kgAFO0rpCNAK8SaD1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ethan Byers, a resident who signed up to speak during public comment, asked Columbia Mayor Billy Lutz whether the borough police chief had asked South Central Transit Authority to remove the bus shelter at Third and Locust after it was taken down earlier this year.

Mayor Billy Lutz read an email from South Central Transit Authority into the record, saying, “South Central Transit Authority was contacted by chief Romer to request that the shelter at Third Locust be removed due to vagrancy, safety, and hygiene issues.” Lutz said SCTA told the borough the shelter had met its 15-year useful life and was therefore eligible to be replaced or removed, and that SCTA’s contractor removed the structure. He added that Rabbit Transit had no concerns when SCTA informed them.

Columbia Police Chief (identified in the transcript as chief Romer) told the council that police had discussed repeated incidents at the shelter and requested SCTA do a site survey. “We had a discussion regarding the issues at [the] bus shelter. We’ve had horrible incidents … The conditions have been terrible from a standpoint of trash,” the chief said. He said he asked SCTA to inspect the site; after a site visit the contractor “made a decision to remove it.”

Lutz and other council members said the borough and SCTA have discussed replacing the shelter with a design that is open on the sides to reduce hiding spaces and improve sanitation. Lutz said the borough has, in the past, allowed bus riders to wait inside the borough offices when weather was bad and that the borough maintains a public restroom during business hours.

Byers told the council he had seen a SCTA email, reported publicly by Columbia Spy, stating SCTA was contacted by the police chief and asking whether the mayor knew the chief had requested removal. Byers also read the SCTA text into the record when he spoke.

Mayor Lutz said borough volunteers previously helped maintain flowers and clean at the shelter and that the borough and transit partners would look at options for a new shelter. He emphasized that borough employees should not be asked to clean unsanitary messes at bus stops.

The council did not take formal action on a replacement at the April 8 meeting; officials said discussions about relocation or a different shelter design would continue.","Public commenter asked whether the police chief requested removal; mayor read a South Central Transit Authority (SCTA) email saying the chief requested removal, the shelter had reached its 15-year useful life and was removed by contract; borough officials say they will consider a redesigned, more open shelter.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Columbia Borough Council approves payments, advertises CDBG project, raises yard-waste fee and authorizes sale of a dump truck

Residents and council revisit parking study; mayor says parking garage costs may exceed $20,000 per space

Planning commission chair asks council to table joint zoning minutes, cites errors and outstanding zoning definitions

Mayor, transit authority say Third and Locust bus shelter removed after safety and vagrancy concerns