Softball champions

The Columbia girls' softball team won the 2010 Garrett Field Summer League on Friday, Aug 13. They beat Lancaster 1-0 in the championship game. Jenai Plowden tripled in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Brittany Germer for the game's only run. Emily Detz pitched the shutout for the Tide. The Tide went 4-0 in the playoffs to win the summer league. Detz pitched three shutouts and gave up only two runs in 27 innings of work. Back Row Left to Right: Coach Ben May, Coach Matt Phillips. Middle Row: Vallesa Corolla, Jenna Plastino, Alex Slick, Brittany Germer, Kelsey Habestroh, Jenai Plowden, Ashlyn Phillips. Front Row: Emily Hooper, Emily Detz, Emily Groft, Kayla Lambert. Missing from photo: Megan Seibert, Mercedes Rentas, Alexis Eckman.

West Hempfield Police file charges in fatal accident

West Hempfield Township Police have filed a number of charges against a 19-year-old Columbia girl in connection with a fatal accident last month.
Cpl. Douglas Ober filed the following charges today with District Magistrate Robert A. Herman against Tiffany Shoff, 19, of the 700 block of Chickies Hill Road:
* Homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.
* Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
* Homicide by vehicle.
* Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance - general impairment.
* Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance - high rate of alcohol.
* Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance as a minor.
* Minor prohibited from operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
* Reckless driving.
* Driving vehicle at a safe speed.
* Limitations on driving on the left side of the roadway.
Cpl. Ober said Shoff was the driver of a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse, in which a passenger, Andrew Wagner, 20, of Columbia, was killed at 1:01 a.m., July 18.
Ober said because Shoff is still recovering from injuries as the result of the accident, a preliminary hearing and bail hearing will be set at a later date.

Paying to play

Saw this article on PennLive: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/08/post_115.html

Fishing by the dock of the....

These youngsters are enjoying the final days of peace and quiet before school starts by fishing off the deck at River Park.

Boat in distress

Water rescue crews from Columbia and Washington Boro responded to River Park this afternoon for the call of a boat in distress off the Route 30 Bridge.

Weekly Columbia police reports

CHARLES WEBSTER HEATH, AGE 46, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IN THE 400 BLOCK OF LOCUST STREET, AUG. 7.

YAIMA LOPEZ, AGE 21, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, AT FIFTH AND WALNUT STREETS, AUG. 9.
JALEESA DAMARIS GONZALEZ, AGE 20, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES ENTERING OR LEAVING OFFICIAL GARAGE, IN THE 900 BLOCK OF MANOR STREET, AUG. 7.

SHERRI L. ALTLAND, AGE 41, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE AT ROUTE 462 AND LOCUST STREET, 2035 HOURS, AUG. 10.

HARRY W. KOONTZ, JR., AGE 42, OF RED LION, WAS CITED FOR REGISTRATION &  CERTIFICATION OF TITLE REQUIRED, AT SECOND AND CHESTNUT STREETS, AUG. 10.
CARINA MARIE ANTES, AGE 20, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION, IN THE 200 BLOCK OF WALNUT STREET, AUG. 11.

KATRINA BLAKE GENTILE, AGE 16, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR RETAIL THEFT AT ANDY’S MARKET, AUG. 6. POLICE SAID GENTILE IS AN EMANCIPATED JUVENILE, WHICH IS THE SAME AS AN ADULT.

DOUGLAS CLAIRE GARNER, AGE 42, WAS CITED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS AT NINTH AND MIFFLIN STREETS, AUG. 9.

ABBI MAE SLICK, AGE 22, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR STOP SIGNS & YIELD SIGNS AT NINTH STREET AND IRONVILLE PIKE, AUG. 11

TAMMY ROBERTS SWEENEY, AGE 35, OF MANHEIM, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES, AT THIRD AND LINDEN STREETS, AUG. 12.
RAUL A. LOPEZ-FARGAS, AGE 22, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, AT MILL AND SOUTH FIFTH STREETS, AUG. 12.

DEREK D. WHYE, AGE 36, OF LEBANON, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, ON SOUTH THIRD STREET, AUG. 13
TODD LYNN MOORE, AGE 42, OF ELIZABETHTOWN, WAS CITED FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION, IN THE 400 BLOCK OF NORTH THIRD STREET, AUG. 14.
JASON M. LINDEMUTH, AGE 37, OF HARRISBURG, WAS CITED FOR TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS AT THIRD AND CHESTNUT STREETS, AUG.  14.

Day one for Tide gridders

 It was day one of football practice this morning for the Columbia High School football team under new coach Mike Burke III. About 35 players were in helmets.

Columbia High School fall sports schedules

Varsity Football

Friday, Sept. 3, Eastern  York
Friday, Sept. 10, at Northeastern
Friday, Sept. 17, Daniel Boone  (Hall of Fame Induction)
Friday, Sept. 24, at Boiling Springs
Friday, Oct. 1, ELCO (Homecoming)
Friday, Oct. 8, at Northern Lebanon
Friday, Oct. 15, at Annville-Cleona
Friday, Oct. 22, Lancaster Catholic
Friday, Oct. 29, Pequea Valley (Parent's Night)
Friday, Nov. 5, at Donegal (7:30 p.m.)
All games at 7 p.m., unless noted.
Junior Varsity Football
Saturday, Sept. 4, Eastern York (10 a.m.)
Monday, Sept.13, Northeastern
Monday, Sept. 27, at Boiling Springs (6 p.m.)
Monday, Oct. 4, ELCO
Monday, Oct. 11, at Northern Lebanon
Monday, Oct. 18, at Annville-Cleona
Monday, Oct. 25, Lancaster Catholic
Monday, Nov. 1, Pequea Valley
All games at 4 p.m., unless noted
Junior High Football

Thursday, Sept. 21, Pequea Valley
Thursday, Sept. 23, Donegal
Thursday, Oct. 7, ELCO
Thursday, Oct. 14, at Northern Lebanon
Thursday, Oct. 21, at Annville-Cleona
Thursday, Oct. 28, Lancaster Catholic
All games at 4 p.m.
Seventh-Eighth Grade Football
Tuesday, Sept. 14, at E-town
Tuesday, Sept. 21, Annville-Cleona
Tuesday, Sept. 28, Reading
Friday, Oct. 8, at Cocalico (3:45 p.m.)
Tuesday, Oct. 12, L-S
Tuesday, Oct. 19, Penn Manor
Wednesday, Oct. 27, at Wheatland
Tennis

Monday, Aug. 30, Solanco
Wednesday, Sept. 1, at Hanover (3:30 p.m.)
Thursday, Sept. 2, at Reading
Tuesday, Sept. 7, Annville-Cleona
Wednesday, Sept. 8, Cocalico
Thursday, Sept. 9, at Northern Lebanon
Monday, Sept. 13, at Lancaster Catholic
Wednesday, Sept. 15, Garden Spot
Thursday, Sept. 16, at Lancaster Mennonite
Monday, Sept. 20, Donegal
Tuesday, Sept. 21, at Ephrata
Wednesday, Sept. 22, ELCO
Thursday, Sept. 23, at L-S
Monday, Sept. 27, Penn Manor
Wednesday, Sept. 29, at Manheim Central
All matches at 4 p.m., unless noted
Cross Country (varsity and junior high)

Wednesday, Sept. 8, Columbia, Garden Spot, Solanco and Township at E-town
Tuesday, Sept. 14, Warwick and Annville-Cleona at Columbia
Tuesday, Sept. 21, Columbia, ELCO and Northern Lebanon at Manheim Central
Tuesday, Sept. 28, Columbia, Cedar Crest, Lancaster Mennonite and L-S at Donegal
Tuesday, Oct. 4, Columbia, Cocalico, Hempfield and Lancaster Catholic at Conestoga Valley
Tuesday, Oct. 12, Columbia, Lebanon, McCaskey and Penn Manor at Ephrata
All meets at 4:15 p.m.
Varsity Volleyball

Tuesday, Sept. 7, ELCO
Thursday, Sept. 9, at Lebanon Catholic
Tuesday, Sept. 14, at L-S
Thursday, Sept. 16, at Mount Calvary
Monday, Sept. 20, Reading
Tuesday, Sept. 21, Lancaster Mennonite
Thursday, Sept. 23, at Lebanon
Monday, Sept. 27, McCaskey
Tuesday, Sept. 28, at ELCO
Thursday, Sept. 30, Ephrata
Monday, Oct. 4, at York Catholic
Tuesday, Oct. 5, Lebanon Catholic
Thursday, Oct. 7, at Solanco
Monday, Oct. 11, York Tech
Tuesday, Oct. 12, L-S
Thursday, Oct. 14, at Lancaster Mennonite
Monday, Sept. 18, at Christian School of York
Tuesday, Oct. 19, Lebanon (Parent's Night)
Wednesday, Oct. 20, at McCaskey
All matches at 6 p.m., at PARK SCHOOL.
Junior High Volleyball
Tuesday, Sept. 7, Garden Spot
Thursday, Sept. 9, Cocalico
Tuesday, Sept. 14, at Ephrata
Thursday, Sept. 16, Solanco
Saturday, Sept. 18, at Kraybill Classic (8:30 a.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 21, Lancaster Mennonite
Thursday, Sept. 23, at Lebanon
Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Cocalico
Thursday, Sept. 30, Ephrata
Tuesday, Oct. 5, at Garden Spot
Thursday, Oct. 7, at Solanco
Thursday, Oct. 11, Kraybill
Thursday, Oct. 14, at Lancaster Mennonite
Tuesday, Oct. 19, Lebanon
All matches at 4 p.m., at Park School.

"Filing" a report on the market committee meeting

Columbia Borough Council's market committee held its monthly meeting Thursday night and after some debate on my part of its "news" value, I decided to "file" this brief report on the first 90 minutes of the meeting.
Council members attending the meeting were chairman Kelly Murphy and Sandy Duncan, along with Norm Meiskey, borough manager; Brian Long (market manager) and John Hinkle and Ann Grubb (market house advisory committee members). There were about a half dozen stand holders and three citizens.
Most of the 90 minutes the discussion centered on parking around the market house and advertising the market.
After much discussion between the committee and stand holders, it was decided that "free parking" on market days in the municipal lot. Other parking issues were discussed, but for now the free parking in the municipal lot was deemed a start.
On advertising issues, the budget for that was discussed and at the beginning of the year there was $3,000 in the market budget for that, but there were some ads published, leaving about $800 in that line item. Long said he priced an advertisement for Engle Printing and Publishing that would be a one time cost of $1,000.
Again, after much discussion, it was decided to run a much smaller ad in the Engle Publications and increase the advertising budget for a bigger ad later in the year.
One stand holder said about the advertising, "we need to let them know we are here, if we don't, there's no future here."
Long said a recent attempt to advertise the market on place mats was "not a great idea" and doing a recent survey, Long said the top three answers were newspapers, electronically or having a user friendly website.
"That's what the customers tell you," Long said.
Long suggested the key to a successful advertising campaign would be a frequent ad along with something that stands out. The stand holders rejected a plan to assist with the cost of advertising, saying, "no one is making any money, so we shouldn't pay to advertise."
"Things are going to have to get better or we are out of here. The market isn't improving at all, " said a stand holder.
One of the things I do when I attend meetings, events or games, I like watching the people for their body language or facial expressions. Well, during the meeting and why I used the expression "filing" is that one council member seemed more interested in filing her nails than what was going on at the meeting.
Murphy also talked a little bit about recent events at the market, which led to Long's pending resignation.
Murphy said he was frustrated by the happenings at the market and wants to move forward with improvements to the market.

Penny, nickel and diming

The other day after the borough council meeting, COLUMBIA TALK posted about the pending changes in the costs of the parking meters.
Sometime in the next month, once the meters are adjusted, it will cost those visiting our downtown 25 cents for 30 minutes of parking, instead of 25 cents for an hour.
I've done some thinking on the issue, talked to a few business people and sat through the first 90 minutes or so of council's market committee meeting on Thursday night (a story will be "filed" on that meeting).
One comment I heard was people/businesses would probably agree to the increase in cost, if Columbia's downtown was thriving and we didn't need to attract visitors to our town to survive. Now, it's like "welcome to Columbia" and you're going to have to dig deep to visit and get a big thank you for visiting in terms of a ticket.
And speaking of that ticketing process, which the borough has stepped up in recent months, "tagging" people until 9 p.m.on Friday and six every other day but Sunday, I understand last night on the late shift (until 9 p.m.), 44 tickets were given out and some nasty words thrown in the direction of the parking enforcement official.  And some of those were probably attending a class reunion held downtown.
Again, nickel and diming.
Many of those downtown just are shaking their heads at the time change and some wonder if any business people were even consulted about the change? Any bets on that?
So as the nickel and diming continues, here is another suggestion. Since the borough employees are exempt from plugging meters, while they are working, for one month, change the exemption, where they have to stop what they are doing and walk out and slug the meters say every hour or every two hours. And like others in town, if their meter is on zero, they get a ticket and they have to pay them. Then see what happens.
Like I said last week, nickel and diming people isn't the financial answer. Consistent code enforcement and using the truck scales to its fullest potential is one way, the borough could be very well off financially.

Dunk the coaches, help Columbia sports

Union Station, Fourth and Union streets, will host a dunk tank benefit for the Columbia High School athletic program from noon-6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 21.
Among the CHS coaches already committed to the "tank" are football coaches Mike Burke Sr. and Jr., basketball coach Mark Wisler and wrestling coach Scott Rupp.

St. Anne's to hold yard sale

St. Anne's Retirement Community Yard Sale (in conjunction with the Mountville Yard Sale) on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Proceeds from yard sale areas will be donated to the Pet Fund and benefit the pets at St Anne's Retirement Community
For $15, you can reserve your lawn area. One - 10x20 grass area (includes space for you car)
ALL PROCEEDS FROM YOUR SALE ARE YOURS TO KEEP
For further information, you may contact: Karen Kuhn at 285-6105 or email kkuhn@stannesrc.org You can also pick a yard sale form up at St Anne's Retirement Community

Help is needed

Columbia High School is looking for volunteers to help with the concession stand during home football games. Interested parties are asked to call Deb Nissley at 684-7500, ext. 3413.

Are you ready for some football?

Football practice starts Monday at Columbia High School. Equipment was given out tonight. Tomorrow between 9-11:30 a.m., the football program conduct will hold its annual town canvas.

A Night of Music

 It was a Night of Music tonight at Columbia High School as the marching band performed its football and competition show for parents and friends.

Food for Thought

HERE IS THE TEXT OF MAYOR LEO LUTZ' LETTER TO COLUMBIA BOROUGH COUNCIL CONCERNING THE CABINS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER.


During the next several months you will be making the second most important decision that has been made in my nine years working for Columbia Borough. The first major decision was the purchase and sale of the property at Third and Linden Street. I believe we all can agree that this was the right thing to do toward jump starting the Economic Development and Revitalization in Columbia Borough.

Now Columbia Borough has been offered the gift of three parcels of land owned by the Safe Harbor Power and Water commonly known as the River Cottages. The decision will be hat do we do with this gift and what is the right thing to do? I have thought long and hard about this decision and listened to many discussions and ideas on the subject.

Columbia Borough must show it is serious by completing projects such as constructing a building at River Park, purchasing the adjoining 14 acres of land between the bridges, increasing parking by purchasing and demolishing the building between the Market House and the Market House parking lot and completing the Downtown Beautification project.

These projects and the theory behind completing these projects are noted in the soon to be finalized Economic Development Strategic Plan and Comprehensive Plan. Both plans have been developed by residents throughout all walks of life in Columbia Borough with a common goal; creating a sense of place, that place where we all want to live and call home.

With this in mind, I have heard or thought of three different scenarios on what to do with the gifting from Safe Harbor Power and Water and how to create the funding necessary to complete started or stalled projects. Allow me to outline these and include my assessment of each.

One: Take the gifting from Safe Harbor and place the property up for sale to the highest bidder. This will create capitol, but may take a generation to see the full economic impact if any. As seen in the purchase and sale of the Third and Linden property this option is very time consuming on personnel at a time when we need to have other projects moving and may take years to complete the transaction. Also, the development that may take place may not be in the best interests of Columbia Borough. This is not the right thing to do to the people who have been there for generations and noted is part of the historic fabric of Columbia Borough.

Two: Take the gifting from Safe Harbor and continue to lease the property to the cottage owners. This option will not create the capitol needed to do these projects planned or stalled. Additionally the expenses of becoming a landlord such as taxes, maintenance and installation of roads and infrastructure will off-set monies collected on leases. This is not the right thing to do.

Third: Take the gifting from Safe Harbor and sell to the Cottage Owners Association through the Columbia Economic Development Corporation in the same manner as the Turkey Hill Experience. This can be a fast transaction creating the needed capitol for projects and when combined with grant funding already awarded can jump start further economic development, business retention and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. The amount the Cottage Owners Association has offered Safe Harbor can be used to complete projects as noted above such as:

Constructing a building at River Park with restrooms and deck. DCNR has indicated $165,000 could be realized for such a project provided Columbia Borough can provide a match. This would allow for the construction of a $320,000 building. There is a possibility of additional funding to complete the entire building but Columbia Borough would have to make the initial investment.

Purchase the 14 acres between the bridges from Norfolk Southern. Columbia Borough has made an offer to Norfolk Southern. If the offer is refused and Columbia Borough cannot invest the monies to purchase, we will lose a $30,000 grant from DCNR that is to be used for the purchase and funding from the Lancaster County Urban Enhancement Fund to be used for the planning phase. $100,000 may be needed for this transaction to be completed. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase the lands and complete the footprint of River Park.

Complete the Downtown Beautification Project. The completion of this project has been cited by both residents and businesses alike as an important part in the economic development and revitalization of Columbia Borough. The project is also listed, as are the others in the Economic Development Strategic Plan. The lights have been purchased with a grant from Senator Brubaker but cannot be installed properly without the other part of the project such as new conduit, curb and sidewalk reconstruction and tree planting. Completion of this project may cost $150,000.

By my calculations, that leaves roughly $200,000 to purchase and demolish the building across the alley from the Market House and adjacent to the new Market House parking lot and expand the lot. Additionally, the borough could offer the front portion of the lot to an entity to construct a mixed use businesses/residence properties on the South Third Street portion of the lot. This would offset the cost, allow for more economic development in other areas, increase the tax base, eliminate curb cuts, increase business and residential opportunities and fill the void in the streetscape. This is the right thing to do.

I believe if you sharpen your pencils a bit with these suggestionsm you may even have enough money left to retire the latest borrowing taken on by council.

Please give these thoughts and scenarios some serious thought. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to create the Columbia Borough we all would like to live in and have new business and residents invest in. We can also create the sense of place, that place we proudly call home if we do the right thing.

Leo S. Lutz
Mayor

My Food for Thought!

I was having trouble coming up with a headline for today's column, so I thought I would steal a headline.
First, I was able to check on the Code Enforcement issue, which was discussed on Monday night. Code people were just doing what they were told and the situation has been corrected.
****
Got an email from a police officer today, who said he wrote a ticket in the alley near the market because the owner of the vehicle was unable to be found. The ticket was excused by the borough's finance manager!
*****
There were a lot of comments about the proposed sale of the cabins on Monday night at the council meeting and possibly putting the issue on the ballot for the voters to decide. Just something to consider. It may take a few years to complete Mayor Lutz' proposed action and putting the issue on the ballot will cost the borough money to do, which apparently Columbia does not have.
******
Now for the increase/decrease in prices with the downtown parking meters. I am a proponent of not having parking meters downtown only because we want people to come downtown. What I do not like is without meters those who rent apartments downtown will fill the spaces and get a free ride. Perhaps those people, if we know who the renters are, should be forced to pay a parking fee. But since in listening to some of the comments on Monday night, I'm not sure if Columbia has a handle on the rental issue.
But in my mind, this comes down to nickel and diming people. If we were getting $100,000 off parking meter revenue, then go for it. We are not. The same goes with Code Enforcement. Its not consistent. We are picking on the small stuff and letting the bigger issues go.
So here is a thought tied into what Mayor Lutz said Monday night, about using the money gained from the sale of the cabin area, perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of $630,000, and using it to jump start  projects.
Here's food for thought -- consistent code enforcement, in terms of fines, etc. and using the truck weighing scales, which most of the time are sitting idol to its fullest use. Those two issues alone, if properly utilized, could bring Columbia that $630,000 in a hurry. Truck fines are expensive and could be an extremely profitable venture!
*****
One other food for thought item from the mayor's letter dealt with the street scape of Locust Street -- replacing the street lights, trees, etc. The mayor said it would cost $150,000 to complete. Perhaps some of the businesses downtown might be willing to contribute and has anyone approached PPL about doing it as a community project? They've done it before in town.

More charges filed in Delaware

More charges are filed in campground burglaries: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/276066

Other council business

Here are some other things that happened at last night's meeting:
* Todd Kramer questioned the council when two fire damaged buildings on North Second Street at Poplar street might be demolished so he can rent out two buildings he owns near the fire scene.
Borough Manager Norm Meiskey said it won't be long before the buildings will be demolished legally.
* Heather McDonald thanked the council for changing the street sweeping in the 100 block of Locust Street.
She also asked how long vehicles can be parked on properties.
* Frank Doutrich asked why a dead end area of Seventh and Poplar streets was paved and also how many projects are on council's plate to be completed.
* Tabled a maintenance agreement between Columbia, West Hempfield and Wrightsville for the Route 462 Bridge lighting project.
* Approved hiring a part-time janitor for up to 19 hours a week, Anna Gerlitzki voted against the motion.
* Appointed Jonathan Lutz as an alternate member of the Zoning Board.
* Approved a request from the St. Paul's Missionary Baptist Church for the use of Makle Park this weekend for a basketball tournament and church service.
* Reappointed Mark Zeamer to the Tree Commission and noted there are vacant seats on the commission, the Planning Commission and the HARB Board for an architect.

Advertising at River Park

Saw this sign posted Sunday at River Park. Is this legal?

Turkey Hill happy!

Usually at borough council meetings, members of the council and management often times have a bottle of water or soda in front of them during meetings. Monday night, just seemed kind of odd that those sitting at the head table were sipping Turkey Hill iced tea out of Turkey Hill coasters!
Is Turkey Hill tea now the official drink of Columbia Borough!

Was it a better meeting?

Over the first five or six months of this year, there has been plenty of discussion at Columbia Borough Council meetings on how the meetings were being conducted by President Mary Wickenheiser.
Public comment was limited and there was to be no interaction like in the past between citizens, council members and staff. Questions would be answered at the end of a citizen's comment and if the citizen had a follow up question to a response, they would have to wait a month to answer the question.
It created a lot of tension and mistrust among members of council and those attending meetings.
Monday night, the tension was gone and the meeting went off without a hitch.
Council President Wickenheiser was on vacation and Mary Barninger, council's vice-president ran the meeting.
There was give and take between council and the citizens and a relaxed mood at the meeting.
"It is obvious you (Barninger) don't agree with the way the meetings were being run before and I applaud you for it," said Frank Doutrich to Barninger during the citizen's comment portion of the meeting.
After answering a multitude of questions from Doutrich, Barninger said she likes the format being used Monday night.
"I like to give the folks the benefit of doubt and as long as there is respect and the meetings are orderly that's how I'll run the meeting," Barninger said.
Mayor Leo Lutz said he has spoken to Wickenheiser about changing the way meetings are conducted.
"She was considering it as long as there were some guidelines and I thought we were going back to that," Lutz said.
"I guess the council president didn't discuss the changes with the rest of council," the mayor said.

A question and some answers at the market

About two weeks ago, after a special meeting of Columbia Borough Council, COLUMBIA TALK learned of the resignation of Brian Long as Market Manager.
Two days later, Long was still in command at the market and issued a "no comment" about his future.
Monday night, resident Frank Doutrich asked about Long's status as Market Manager and what happened.
"Tell us what is going on?" Doutrich asked.
Kelly Murphy, who chairs council's market committee did in fact confirm Long resigned as of July 16 and an ad seeking Long's replacement appeared in the Lancaster Sunday News.
"He has agreed to stay on as acting manager," Murphy said of Long.
Murphy said council is trying to move forward with the market, but did not say what caused Long to resign.

Meter prices are being changed

Well, if you have been downtown recently and parked at the meters, you've probably noticed Columbia is enforcing the meter laws to a T. Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m.to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
You've probably been one of those ticketed.
Well, get ready for another change in the very near future.
Once the meters are cleaned, calibrated and signs changed, it will cost you more to park.
Now, with the exception of an area near the post office, it costs 25 cents to park for an hour. Once the above changes are made, it will cost 25 cents to park for 30 minutes.
Council members Mary Barninger and Anna Gerlitzki voted against the change.

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.