Leesburg Town Council President Tom Moore.

LEESBURG — At the Leesburg Town Council meeting held Monday, July 9, Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons, Warsaw, informed council members that USIC Locating Services, Warsaw, failed to properly mark utilities at two properties in Leesburg. 

The properties are located at 675 W. Prairie St. and 105 E. Prairie St. According to Tenney, one resident was having a garage built. The other was putting in a new well.

“We currently have two sewer lines that have been cut and power lines that have been cut because USIC did not locate them at all,” said Tenney. 

“I did contact and talk to USIC this morning and they said they had gone out and located everything on site,” Tenney stated. “The property owners said no green flags and no red flags were placed in the area where the power lines are.”

Leesburg Street Superintendent Craig Charlton advised that he had observed the property at 105 E. Prairie Street and noticed that there were no green flags and that an “all clear” tag had been placed there. 

“Well, we have an invoice here from USIC in the amount of $1,085.28,” said Council President Tom Moore. “I’m not in the practice  – and I don’t think the other board members are either – of paying people for not doing their job.”

Attorney Vern Landis will be reviewing the contract with USIC to determine how to proceed with this issue. 

Bill Poe and Michael VanOsdol attended the meeting to see what the next step would be in order to combine two lots on Van Buren Street and vacate an alley. The men were informed at last month’s meeting that they would need to file a written petition. According to Landis, an ordinance will be needed to continue on with the process. Landis will begin work on the ordinance. 

Charlton said the sewage pod cover at 311 E. Van Buren St. is a vacuum clean out so there is no need to add a 12 inch ring. “It is below grade, but there is no standing water,” said Charlton. 

R & R Visual has completed the video of the storm water drain line in the alley. Several areas of the drain line appear to have been breached when the sanitation sewer line was installed. Charlton suggested having a pipe lining service review the issue for repair and is in the process of obtaining estimates. 

Charlton informed council members that the Prairie Street storage building is in need of a new roof, as the current one is over 25 years old. He is obtaining estimates for a new roof. 

In May, Charlton told council members that the town sewer locating device is no longer operable. The model is outdated so replacement parts are no longer available. Tenney obtained quotes for two different types of locating devices and presented those quotes to council members at last night’s meeting. Council members agreed to purchase an RD 7100 DL in the amount of $4,553.29. 

Other News: 

• Charlton reported there have been fewer parking issues. 
• A new picnic table and two planters have been added to Clover Park.
• Construction work for the addition to the Leesburg Town Hall building will be going to a public bid next month.
• The 2019 budget workshop will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17. 
• The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13. 

Leesburg Street Superintendent Craig Charlton.