17512 Columbia

today’s news … Wednesday, June 25, 2014

today’s news and information gleanings from here and there!

Quote for today… “”Why aren’t you telling the full story?” – Wayne Griffin, owner of the “to-be-razed” church structure in Steelton, has this question for the town’s mayor in this PennLive article.

  • And this comment (“3.5 acres, 3 bed 2 bath rancher with full basement built new by us in 08 taxes are $ 1100 per year and no bulls**t from anyone so happy to be out of that town move west folks take on the country life“) at You know you’re from Columbia if facebook page.
  • Let the vitriol roll: It begin with the comments (as this one “Really looking forward to this series. I hope it encourages thoughtful dialogue and not a bunch of people dumping on Columbia.”) before the articles appear – LancasterOnLine and facebook page

more vitriol

  • The poll at the York Daily Record asks whether the reader is “looking forward to an electric Harley.” Just this morning, the votes are running 75% “NO.” It’s the noise, man – think baseball cards on spokes! Here’s what a Harrisburg Patriot-News commenter said: “No big deal… all Harley needs to do is design some automotive subwoofers to look like motorcycle exhaust pipes… then the bozos who actually like loud motorcycles can listen to the distinctive Harley rumble in digital stereo…”

fire pit

  • Open fire! Among the discussion topics at the meeting on Monday evening was that of open fires in backyard properties in town. The discussion honed in on having an ordinance (yep, another tough to administer and enforce ordinance) relating to backyard open fires that might including grills, fire pits and chimineas. By clicking on “ordinances” at the Columbia Borough Website, this page appears. The search function produces no results for “open fires.” But searching “open fires” at this site yields a bunch of results including this: “Columbia No. 1 Fire Department, Susquehanna Fire and Rescue Company No. 4, and the Columbia Consolidated Fire Department are hereby recognized by the Borough as volunteer fire companies which have been organized by residents of said Borough and are hereby designated by the Borough as the officially recognized fire companies in and for the Borough of Columbia. No other organization is dedicated to the fighting of fires or authorized to operate within the Borough of Columbia except for those acting under a mutual aid or other agreement approved by Columbia Borough Council.” [Amended 6-11-2001 by Ord. No. 704] 
  • Wheel reinvention! It’s tough for the average citizen to get answers but it’s not so difficult to get information about “open fire” ordinances in other municipalities. A quick and easy google search produces dozens of models, including this one from the Commonwealth’s Department of Environmental Protection: “Open Burning Model Ordinance This model ordinance can be used by local governments in establishing an open burning ordinance.”

no alcohol

  • Booze at River Park! The “no” sign clearly states ‘NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.” This is another of those “we don’t enforce” or “tough to enforce” codes, rules, regulations or ordinances. Clearly, lots of regulations, codes, etc. apply only to some folks or are enforced selectively. Yet one of the topics discussed at Monday’s meeting was shall the borough allow alcohol at the new Trail Building when it’s completed. Allowing alcohol would allow Columbia to be competitive in the solicitation of holding wedding receptions, etc. at the new structure. The discussion among those at the “decision tables” revealed that several entities and organizations including the Old Columbia Public Grounds Company, Pennsylvania’s Deaprtment of Conservation and Natural Resources and others would have to approve any decision like this. “Alcoholic beverages are prohibited,” is one of the Trail Rules of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail – the heavily grant-developed trail that touches so many municipalities. Imagine each of these municipalities opening their stretch of the trail for “special exception” liquor stations.

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