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Columbia County commissioners approve Greenway update, land bank designation and fee changes; mail-in ballot vendor set
Summary
On Feb. 19 the Columbia County Board of Commissioners approved a SEDA-COG-led Greenway Plan update at no cost to the county, designated the county redevelopment authority as a land bank, adopted fee changes via Resolution 1-2026, and selected Fort Orange Press to process Spring 2026 mail-in ballots.
COLUMBIA COUNTY, Pa. — The Columbia County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 19 approved a series of routine and policy items, including a SEDA-COG-led update to the Four County Greenway Plan with no expected cost to the county, designation of the Columbia County Redevelopment Authority as a land bank, an adjustment of county fees under Resolution 1-2026, and selection of Fort Orange Press to process the county’s mail-in ballots for the 2026 spring primary.
Commissioner Brewer called the meeting to order and the board moved through a consent-style agenda that included the actions. The motions were recorded as moved and seconded (examples include a motion on the Greenway Plan moved by Commissioner Karschner and seconded by Commissioner Kovach) and were approved during the meeting.
Why it matters: the Greenway Plan guides regional trail and outdoor-recreation planning across multiple counties; the land bank designation gives the county’s redevelopment authority a formal tool for acquiring and preparing properties for redevelopment; and the fee changes alter county administrative charges that affect taxpayers and tax-sale processes.
Votes at a glance
- SEDA-COG: authorize pursuit of Four County Greenway Plan on behalf of Columbia County; expected county cost: $0. Motion by Commissioner Karschner, second by Commissioner Kovach; approved.
- Fort Orange Press: approved as vendor to process Columbia County mail-in ballots for the Spring 2026 primary. Motion by Commissioner Kovach, second by Commissioner Brewer; approved.
- Resolution 1-2026: increased returned-check fee from $25 to $35; rescinded a $65 tax-sale cost and instead increased the tax-sale advertising fee from $25 to $90. Motion by Commissioner Brewer, second by Commissioner Karschner; approved.
- Ordinance 1-2026: designates the Columbia County Redevelopment Authority as a land bank. Motion by Commissioner Kovach, second by Commissioner Karschner; approved.
What the meeting record shows: the items were presented and approved on the consent agenda with limited discussion. SEDA-COG representative Betsy Kramer briefed the board on the Greenway Plan update and said the county should not incur costs for the update. Commissioners discussed mail-in-ballot processing vendor quotes and noted operational dependence on USPS delivery for timely ballots.
The meeting also included routine financial and personnel approvals and acceptance of correspondence from utilities and mining operators about reclamation work and line rebuilds. The board approved bills totaling $1,101,820.89 before adjourning.
The meeting record shows no public comments were made during the public-comment period. The meeting was attested by Chief Clerk David J. Witchey and adjourned.
