Important meeting on Thursday

There will be a joint meeting Thursday night at 6 p.m. between Columbia Borough Council and the Municipal Authority to discuss the pending bond funding for a new waste water treatment plant and other projects in the borough.
The meeting will be held at the borough hall, 308 Locust St.
At last week's regular meeting of borough council, the meeting and the bond funding was discussed.
Earlier this year, council approved a bond issue for $16 million to construct a new plant to bring it up to state code. Recently, Borough Manager Norm Meiskey wanted to add another $5 million in a separate issue to include projects such as replacing old sewer lines in Columbia, constructing a building at the River Park and street construction projects.
There was some reaction to the plan.
Former Councilmen Tim Swartz said the plan would add too much to the borough's debt.
"The marina at the river front is not a necessity. It is more of a want," Swartz said.
"We are spending money in the wrong areas and we need to stop," he said.
He suggested reevaluating the projects that are planned in Columbia and prioritize them.
"You need to be cautious with what projects you move forward with," Swartz said.
Frank Doutrich, another former member of the council, also questioned the spending.
Mary Barninger, council's vice-president, also questioned the wishes with the bond issue, stating it also might be "more of a want than a need."
It was already discussed previously that with the construction of the new sewer plant, sewer rates will double within the borough. With the additional bond funding, it could cost taxpayers at least a mill in taxes.