GYPSY ROSES – Where are the roses that framed the entrance to the Bridge and will they ever return? Short answer: the roses are being stored at the Borough Farm and maintained really well. When the bridge entry construction is completed, the roses may be replanted in the general vicinity of where they were (f there’s space) or they may go to an area by the Union Bank and Cubby Spiese Bridge.

GOOD ENOUGH FOR COLUMBIA’S CITIZENS BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR COLUMBIA BOROUGH – That’s not only true about water consumed at council meetings, but also about borough farm-produced mulch. Councilor Barry Ford asked why the mulch generated at the borough farm isn’t “good enough” for borough-owned sites including playgrounds. Councilor Jim Smith said that that play areas require treated mulch. Councilor Mary Wickenheiser added that the borough farm produces “compost” not “mulch.”

The profound observation by Wickenheiser is the crux of the discussion. There is a difference between mulch and compost. There are those who contend the best mulch for play areas is ground-up rubber.

If, on the other hand, municipalities use organic mulch in play areas, “Playground certified mulch should be used in the playground areas. The mulch is a natural material that will decompose and requires routine maintenance and must be “topped off” every year to maintain the design thickness. Generally, the mulch shall be placed at a 12” compacted depth in order to provide adequate cushion for play equipment with fall heights up to 6 feet. The playground mulch, if properly maintained, is engineered to be an accessible surface, suitable for wheel chairs.”

Simply stated, the mulch that comes from the borough farm will not be treated – what comes from the borough farm is chopped up residue of organic (and some inorganic) materials that have been brought to the farm by citizens of Columbia and other municipalities. A citizen stated that he’d spoken with a private mulch producer who told him there is no difference between treated mulch and untreated mulch.

There is, however, the designation of “CCA-free” mulch. The US Environmental Protection Agency says: “Wood Mulch Derived from Waste Lumber Preserved with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) should never be burned or used as compost or mulch.”

Also, the Consumer Safety Information Sheet for Inorganic Arsenical Pressure-Treated Wood states: “Do not use treated wood under circumstances where the preservative may become a component of food or animal feed. Examples of such sites would be use of mulch from recycled arsenic-treated wood, cutting boards, counter tops, animal bedding, and structures or containers for storing animal feed or human food.”

Is your mulch safe? Here’s how to find out. – Growing a Greener World

Herbicide-treated mulch effective a lo-o-ng time – AGAnswers

Much ado about mulch – buyer beware – Growing a Greener World

More about mulch from the Mulch & Soil Council

So what to do for play area safety? According to the Public Playground Safety Handbook, here is the “appropriate surfacing.”

Click on the picture below to download the entire manual.

SOME OF COLUMBIA’S CITIZENS WERE NOTIFIED but some weren’t. A citizen echoed comments applauding the 40 or so who attended last week’s Public Utilities Commission meeting about the huge rate increase requested by the Columbia Water Company for Columbia residents. The citizen showed a flyer that was delivered to some residences in the borough and questioned why all citizens were not notified in this manner. Georgianna Schreck said the borough used volunteers to pass out flyers in the “local area.” Someone else said the flyers were supposed to go to businesses in the downtown so they could “put them in their windows.”  Someone commented that the only business owners represented at the meeting were sitting on the side of the Columbia Water Company.

The borough manager said the notice was also posted on the back of the sewer bills. The notice read:”

A NOTE FROM THE BOROUGH MANAGER – SAMUEL SULKOSKY

The PUC will hold a Public Input Hearing on September 3, 2013 at 6:30 pm at the Columbia Fire Department Station 801, 137 Front Street, Columbia, PA 17512.  The Hearing is concerning the Columbia Water Company’s Proposed 21.1% Rate Increase.  The public is encouraged to attend and to participate in this Hearing.

FORGOT THE AWNINGS – When a citizen asked about the awnings that adorn the borough offices, the refreshingly candid answer from the borough staffers was, “We forgot.” The borough manager pledged not to forget next year after the borough hall gets a brand new paint re-face.

COPPER THIEVERY in Manheim prompted a caveat by the mayor. Seems that thieves have snipped copper grounding wires from utility poles. These grounding wires direct the “excess electricity off the high-tension wires and directly into the ground.” He asked those in attendance to be alert for suspicious activity in Columbia. Council president Beury, a retired PPL person, said that thefts like this are dangerous.

“”It’s one of the most foolhardy actions you can take. It’s foolish for someone to grab hold of a ground wire and start cutting away with a metal devices or tool. It’s inviting injury and could be fatal,” said David Graves, a spokesman for National Grid, in this article.