Lancaster City Council approves lift-station contract, surplus equipment disposal, zoning changes and a mill‑site purchase option

Lancaster City Council on Monday approved a set of routine and development actions, including awarding a roughly $2.0 million contract for a sewer lift station, declaring surplus equipment for online auction, approving budget and zoning amendments, and authorizing a purchase option to sell six parcels at the old Lancaster Mill site.

Item 8: award of RIA bypass lift station contract Council considered bids for the RIA bypass lift station replacement and moved to award the contract to AAA Utility and Construction LLC for the amount presented at the meeting (about $2,000,289). City staff said the project requires acquisition of a small parcel and noted the award is contingent on state approval to confirm compliance with state requirements. Council member Saul moved to award the contract; Council member Hood seconded and the motion carried on roll call.

Resolution 26‑06: surplus equipment Council adopted Resolution 26‑06, declaring assorted items (police supplies, an old pickup, generators, a hay blower, walking‑floor trailers, a 1990 forklift, a snowplow attachment and an out‑of‑service bucket truck) surplus and authorizing disposal through govdeals.com. Staff said the site is an open public bidding platform and the highest bidder wins; the city does not pay site fees.

Budget and zoning ordinances Council approved second reading of Ordinance 26‑03, amending the FY25–26 operating budget to reallocate existing lines (salary/benefits, noncapital IT, utility development temporary staffing, overtime and solid-waste trailers) without changing the total budget. First readings for Ordinance 26‑04 (annex and rezone of a 1.996‑acre parcel at or near 2210 University Drive to R‑15 for three single‑family lots) and Ordinance 26‑05 (rezoning ~6.32 acres to permit a 50‑unit workforce multifamily development, with planning commission recommendation and state award noted) were both approved to move forward.

Executive session and mill-site sale authorization Following an executive session on an economic development matter (identified in the meeting as Project Philadelphia), council returned and voted to authorize the city administrator to execute a purchase‑option agreement with Mill Hill Development LLC to sell six parcels at the old Lancaster Mill site for $100,000, under terms to be finalized between the parties. The motion passed on roll call; the transcript records one recorded "No." Council member Sowell made the motion and Council member Marsh seconded.

Public comment During citizens' comments, resident Boyce Brown said work next to his family property proceeded without adequate notice and that trees and fences were disturbed; the mayor said the city would investigate contractors and ensure rules were followed.

Votes at a glance - Award RIA bypass lift station contract to AAA Utility & Construction LLC — motion passed (award amount as presented in meeting). - Resolution 26‑06 (surplus equipment) — adopted. - Resolution 26‑07 (Ellentine Hotel appropriation request) — adopted (see separate coverage). - Ordinance 26‑03 (budget amendment) — second reading approved. - Ordinance 26‑04 (annex & R‑15 rezone for parcel near University Drive) — first reading approved. - Ordinance 26‑05 (rezone for Gateway multifamily) — first reading approved. - Authorization to execute purchase‑option agreement with Mill Hill Development LLC (sell six mill parcels for $100,000) — approved (one recorded No).

Next steps: staff will follow up on contract contingencies (state approvals), proceed with surplus disposal listings, and finalize the mill‑site option agreement terms for council review.