COLUMBIA, PA – For nearly two and a half hours Thursday night, Columbia Borough residents, council members, planners, and the attorney wrestled with one of the biggest development questions facing the community: how should Columbia regulate data centers before one potentially arrives? The special meeting, held Sept. 24 at the Columbia High School campus, was…
Jesse Sweigart | The Columbia Chronicle COLUMBIA, PA – What began as a discussion about Right-to-Know requests and legal expenses quickly turned into one of the most heated exchanges of the night Monday as resident Robert Thompson, Mayor Leo Lutz, Borough Manager Jack Brommer, and borough solicitor officials sparred over transparency, government accountability, and the…
COLUMBIA, PA – Columbia officials announced significant progress in the financial health of the borough’s police pension fund. During the meeting, council members noted that the pension plan is now approximately 95 percent funded, representing a dramatic improvement from previous years when funding levels were substantially lower. Officials recalled that the pension system once faced…
Kimberly Robinson | The Columbia Chronicle COLUMBIA, PA – Columbia Borough is pursuing additional funding to support a major rehabilitation project at the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center. Council approved a resolution authorizing the submission of a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant application that would help finance needed repairs and improvements to the popular riverfront…
Kimberly Robinson | The Columbia Chronicle COLUMBIA, PA – Columbia Borough Council has approved the next step in the sale of a five-acre development parcel located at 1110 Ridge Avenue. Council authorized borough officials to negotiate an agreement with the Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), which would market the property and seek a qualified buyer….
Jesse Sweigart | The Columbia Chronicle COLUMBIA, PA – Columbia officials outlined a series of pedestrian safety improvements Monday night as borough leaders continue efforts to make local streets safer for residents and school children. The initiative comes as community members continue to discuss traffic safety following August’s tragic pedestrian crash that claimed two lives…
Jesse Sweigart | The Columbia Chronicle COLUMBIA, PA – Columbia Borough Council formally acknowledged the resignation of Borough Manager Jack Brommer during Monday night’s council meeting, marking a significant leadership transition for the borough. Brommer’s resignation will take effect on November 13, 2026. Council President Eric Kauffman described the news as unexpected, noting that borough…
By The Columbia Chronicle This week may prove to be one of the most consequential periods Columbia has faced in recent years. As borough officials prepare for tonight’s regular council meeting and Thursday’s special meeting on data center regulations, residents are watching a series of major developments unfold that could shape the community’s future for…
Resignation Shakes Borough Hall, McGinness Redevelopment Stalls, and Community Events Draw Crowds Week Ending September 20, 2026 It was a week filled with major developments in Columbia, ranging from an unexpected resignation at Borough Hall to questions surrounding the future of the former McGinness Airport property. Meanwhile, residents gathered downtown for one of the community’s…
By The Columbia Chronicle Lancaster County voters will be asked this November whether they support a new dedicated property tax to fund public libraries throughout the county. The referendum would establish a library tax of 0.55 mills on taxable real estate, which supporters say would provide a stable and predictable source of funding for local…
By The Columbia Chronicle On September 24, Columbia Borough Council will gather for what may become one of the most significant planning discussions the community has faced in years. The topic is not a specific development application, nor is it a vote to approve a data center. Instead, council will review and discuss a sweeping…
COLUMBIA, Pa. — The Columbia Borough Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, in the Paul W. Myers Council Chambers, where members will consider two planning applications, discuss local housing initiatives, and hear presentations related to economic and community development. According to the published agenda, the meeting will include…
COLUMBIA, Pa. — Columbia Borough residents will have an opportunity later this month to weigh in on how federal grant money could be used to improve the community. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during the regular meeting of Columbia Borough Council at Columbia Borough Hall, 308 Locust Street. The meeting…
By The Columbia Chronicle For more than a decade, Brett Miller has represented Pennsylvania’s 41st House District in Harrisburg. Since first taking office in 2015, Miller has become one of the longest-serving elected officials representing the district, building a record that supporters say reflects steady leadership, accessibility, and a commitment to Lancaster County values. As…
COLUMBIA, PA. Residents planning to follow local government developments will have several noteworthy items to watch during the Columbia Borough Council’s regular meeting tonight, September 8, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Paul W. Myers Council Chambers. The meeting will be livestreamed on the Borough’s YouTube channel, allowing community members to stay informed on decisions…
By The Columbia Chronicle Staff A sweeping proposal from Pennsylvania’s Department of Health is generating significant debate among residents, lawmakers, parents, healthcare professionals, and privacy advocates across the Commonwealth. The proposed regulation, known as Rulemaking #10-242, would represent one of the most substantial updates to Pennsylvania’s disease-control regulations in decades. State health officials say the…
COLUMBIA, Pa. — Public comment dominated much of Columbia Borough Council’s Aug. 25 meeting, with residents voicing concerns about police investigations, code enforcement, neighborhood disturbances, parking enforcement, pedestrian safety, and community development. While council also addressed several borough business items, recognized a retiring police officer, and accepted the resignation of a property inspector, it was…
