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Columbia council approves sale of former wastewater plant at 430 South Front St.
Summary
The Borough Council of Columbia voted to approve the sale of the former wastewater treatment plant at 430 South Front Street, accepting a $565,000 purchase price, directing staff to finalize missing exhibits and correct an address, and adjourning into an executive session.
The Borough Council of Columbia voted to approve a sale agreement for the former wastewater treatment plant at 430 South Front Street, authorizing staff to finalize missing exhibits and correct an address before closing.
Staff said the closing is planned on or before March 31 and that "the current purchase price is for $565,000," and clarified the parcel covers the plant building rather than the full treatment side. The council discussed standard closing provisions such as due diligence and tax obligations.
Council members and staff said the sale will proceed through the Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) as an intermediary to transfer the specialized property to a third-party buyer. The Borough’s attorney, identified in the meeting as Frank, said the mechanism is allowed by law and is intended to put the property back on the tax rolls. Frank added that the CEDC would receive a fee of "1% of the purchase price" for services helping to find a buyer.
Council members asked for clarification about the buyer’s existing use of portions of the property; staff said they did not have immediate details on sublessees and emphasized expediting the long-delayed sale. A council member also noted an incorrect Borough address in the draft agreement (listed as "1200 Corporate Boulevard in Lancaster"); staff acknowledged the error and said the address will be corrected before signature.
Separately, the council approved routine bill payments on a motion announced as made by Councilman Zinc and seconded by Councilman Ezy. Later, Councilman Byer moved and Council Cooper seconded the motion to approve the 430 South Front Street sale with the address correction and addition of Exhibit A; the council approved the motion by voice vote. The meeting then adjourned into an executive session to discuss a personnel matter.
The council did not record individual roll-call vote tallies for either the bill payments or the sale motion in the public transcript; outcomes were announced by voice as approved.
