Boating and drinking, not a good idea

This was one of the topics for discussion at Monday's council meeting: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/420413_Officer-proposes--dry--boating.html

It's not the end of the world!

I haven't posted anything since Wednesday.
There are a couple of reasons. One, when I got home from Wednesday's council interview meeting, I got caught up in the Doctober celebration dealing with Roy Halladay's no-hitter. Thursday was a long day. I had to go to a funeral of a friend/relative's mother and on my way around town trying to come home, I got stopped quite a few times asking me about Wednesday's meeting, then had to go to a junior high football game, which Columbia won in the last minute over Elco.
When I got home, there were some more phone calls, etc. and other stuff.
Friday, I had to call a couple of friends to check on them or just say "hi," then it was off to Northern Lebanon for a football game.
Here are my thoughts on Wednesday's meeting. I enjoyed speaking and listening to the other two candidates -- Carmen Swinehart and James Smith.
I do think I have a lot to offer the borough and hope to get the opportunity to serve. But it is not a life and death situation for me. The sun will come up tomorrow and I'll put my leg on tomorrow just like I have each day. It would be nice and a great honor to serve the 10,300 residents. What I do not like is the back door issues that myself and two other candidates have been subject too. If it is that important, why not run for election previously or not wait until the last day to put your name in?
Someone asked me either yesterday or today why I didn't use this space to promote my beliefs. That's not the way I wanted to do it. Maybe, I should have, but I didn't. My bad!

Columbia is a town of 10,300 people, not one million.We are a small town, not Philly, New York or Chicago where this type back door politics is common place. My agenda is simple -- do what is best for the town  -- not one person, one group or a business. Yes, I have some ideas, but they in the best interests of our town. And in due time, people will find out what they are whether it be while I am a proud member of Columbia Borough Council, or, just posting the thoughts on here.

New lights have been installed

New school crossing warning lights have been installed at intersections near the Taylor Elementary School to alert drivers of people/students in the sidewalk. The lights are on the poles, replacing the lights that were suppose to light up the intersections.

You are invited

More Code Enforcement concerns are expressed

It seems kike no matter the meeting, there are also concerns expressed about the borough's efforts in code enforcement. Monday night's borough council meeting was no exception.
Tim Swartz told members of the council he was talking with one of the borough's new code enforcement officers last Friday, who was answering a complaint. Swartz said the official told him, he was asked to "back off" on issuing citations because the staff in the office was low.
"We're only suppose to issue citations if we get phone calls," Swartz was told.
"This is very discouraging, We need to enforce these codes with zero tolerance. Why would this person tell me this?" Swartz asked.
"If we can't enforce our codes, having extra people doesn't mean a thing," Swartz said.
"If we are going to revitalize this town, this is not the way to do this and this is an issue that needs to be addressed," Swartz said.
Swartz also spoke of an apartment on Locust Street where 11 children and two adults were residing.
Mary Barninger, who served as acting council president for the meeting, was surprised to hear Swartz' information
"We need to immediately look into this," she said.
"This is ridiculous," said Borough Manager Norm Meiskey.
Mayor Leo Lutz said the borough has been working with the Columbia School District and others to get a handle on living problems. Lutz said 71 disruptive conduct reports have been written in the last year concerning tennant issues in Section 8 areas and four people have been taken off the Section 8 lists.
"We are cracking down on this," Lutz said.

Should there be a concern?

When downtown this morning and speaking to a law enforcement officer, I was informed that a nuisance bar in the 400 block of Locust Street is planning a Hip-Hop/Party next Friday. There is a concern that something could happen and it might be nice to have some extra officers on call to help those working the streets next Friday, but, the extra manpower request might be denied. Perhaps it might be a good idea to put some extra police on the streets, just in case.

Water is flowing

For more than a week, the water has been flowing in the fountain in the Town Square.

Here is a question?

This is a picture of the former Keystone Fire Company in the first block of  North Fourth Street.
It is no longer a public building, i.e., fire company. It is a commerical building with the possibility of apartments perhaps in the second floor.
The question is that since this building is no longer a fire company, why haven't the "no parking" signs or yellow paint removed or been taken down, parking meters installed and the street lined for parking spaces?
Just asking!

Hotel and restaurant planned

This is a picture with the zoning notifcation of the "vacant" lot at Fourth and Locust streets, where David Doolittle will again ask the borough'z zoning board for permission to construct a hotel and restaurant on the site. The meeting is at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 30 at the borough hall.
This is perhaps the second or third different plan he has had for this site, all dealing with a hotel.
Across the street, at the former CAP building, where John deVitry is planning the Timeless Inn, it appears those plans are on hold, or, have gone out the window entirely. Signs are cropping up all over town looking for renters for the apartments in he building, along with possible office space. But then again, out of the two projects, deVitry's is more probable in getting done.

Choices for new cars

 Here are the choices Colubia Borough Council had for the purchase of new police cars -- a Crown Vic, Ford Expedition and Dodge Charger. Also check out previous post on Intrepid.

Just found this

In light of Monday's discussion and vote at borough council, I found this: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/new-ford-police-interceptor-cruiser-car-fuel-efficient-no-v8.php

The lights that never worked

About two years ago or so, Columbia Borough received a Safe Routes to School grant, that would allow for a major road project on Ninth Street from Route 462 to the Ironville Pike.


As part of the improvement, bump outs were installed at two intersections to slow traffic and special lighting was placed in the streets at Ninth and Locust, Ninth and Walnut and Ninth and the Ironville Pike designed to light the crosswalks at night.

One problem, the lights never worked. Now, those in-ground lights are being replaced with one that will hang on traffic poles in the area.

The change was revealed at Monday's borough council meeting.

Mary Barninger was the first to speak to the issue.

"It is not the way it was designed and its disconcerting that a vendor can weasel his way out of a project like this," Barninger said.

Mayor Leo Lutz it was learned that other municipalities were having trouble with the lighting system as well.

"The new lights will be more efficient," Lutz said.

Weekend events in Columbia

 

Here are three weekend events in Columbia.

Saturday, May 22, 9 a.m.-noon, the Risk Watch Program will hold a free bicycle safety events at SVEMS in the 600 block of Poplar Street.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Columbia High School Football team will hold a car wash at Glatfelter Field.

Sunday, May 23, the Columbia United Veterans Council will hold its Memorial Day observance and parade.

The observance will be held in Locust Street Park at 1p.m. The parade will begin at 2:30 p.m., at 10th and Manor streets.

The Experience is a step closer

The Turkey Hill Experience at Third and Linden streets is “oh so close” to becoming a reality.

At a special council meeting Wednesday night, an agreement was approved between the borough and the Columbia Economic Development Corporation and Museum Partners that will allow the project to proceed.

The last part of the process will be the actual signing of an agreement between CEDC and Museum Partners.

Wednesday’s meeting cleared the final hurdle of possible soil contamination at the property. All three parties agreed that the soil is clean and te agreement was hand delivered to Harrisburg and DEP this morning.

Settlement on the property is expected to happen sometime in the next two weeks.

Once that happens, construction is expected to start shortly there after, barring any last minute problems.