Columbia, Pennsylvania Development News
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Borough Council 07.14.2026
Published: Jul 14, 2026
Columbia Borough Council Addresses Police Staffing Shortages and Response Times
During the Citizen Comments section, a resident raised concerns about police response times and staffing levels. The resident cited a hit-and-run incident with no immediate police response and a parking violation that also went unaddressed for an extended period. Chief Arn explained that the department is significantly understaffed, with only 12 officers on patrol, often with only two officers per shift, responding to an average of 517 calls in two weeks. She highlighted that critical incidents like shootings and homicides tie up available officers, leading to delays in responding to less critical calls. The chief stated that the issue is not a lack of funding but a severe difficulty in hiring and retaining police officers, with only two officers available for approximately 10,000 residents at times. Council members discussed potential solutions, including utilizing parking enforcement officers and addressing the recruitment challenges.
Columbia Borough Council Approves Fee Waivers for Non-Profit Events at Market House
Columbia Borough Council approved waiving fees for several non-profit organizations to host events at the Columbia Market House. These included waiving a $575 fee for the Columbia CEDC and CareerLink to host a job fair, waiving a $35 fee for CCAT for a fundraising pop-up event on July 11th, and waiving a $35 fee for St. Paul's Episcopal Church for a ticket sale event to assist with roof repair. Council also approved a revised special event application for Raven Ridge Wildlife. These actions demonstrate the borough's support for community organizations and events held within public spaces.
Daniel Kopp Appointed to Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Council reviewed and approved a resolution to add Daniel Kopp to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for a four-year term. The resolution, number 2026-17, was presented and approved with a motion by Councilman Cooper and a second by Councilman Ziegler. Mr. Kopp was unable to attend the meeting but had met with the board, which recommended his approval.
Columbia Borough Council Approves MOU with Lancaster City for Water Main Installation Amidst Discussion on Project Details
Council discussed the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lancaster City regarding water main installation. Key points of discussion included the MOU's binding nature, the need for clarity on specific details like steel plates for overnight openings, and potential changes to the water main's path. Lancaster City plans to reroute the main through the VFW backlog and potentially use curb-to-curb repaving. Concerns were raised about whether the MOU adequately addressed our borough's street degradation ordinance and specified timing. While the MOU acknowledges the borough's code, specifics on overnight work and detailed timing were noted as missing. Council members debated the necessity of approving the MOU, with some emphasizing that it represents a step forward in collaboration and acknowledgment of the borough's requirements, despite not being fully binding. The council ultimately approved the MOU.
Columbia Borough Council Approves Payments and Change Orders for Infrastructure Projects, Including Cost Savings on McGinnis Remediation
Columbia Borough Council approved several payment applications and change orders related to infrastructure projects. This included approval of payment application number one for the 100-200 block of Water Street and for the Union Street CDBG project, payment application number nine final for McGinnis remediation, and payment application number two for Delaware Environmental Construction Services. The council also approved change order number four, final, for McGinnis total remediation, which resulted in a significant cost saving of $380,000, bringing the total cost to approximately $1.8 million. Additionally, the council approved awarding the Mill Street Asphalt Replacement project to Kinsey Construction Environmental for $65,775, which was well below the available funds.
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