Pictured, from left, Leesburg Council Vice-President Doug Jones and President Tom Moore.

LEESBURG — Discussion regarding sanitary sewer issues continued at this month’s Leesburg Town Council meeting held Monday, Dec. 14. Jason Bradley, representative from Covalen, Indianapolis, attended the meeting to address the frequency of sanitary sewer issues the town has been experiencing. 

“We want to see if we can trend this out. Some things that can cause a pump to go out before the time it should be is misuse, which I think you do have some misuse here,” said Bradley. “The other would be if the station is getting more flow than it is designed to do.”

“We want happy customers,” said Bradley. “That’s why we want to figure out what’s going on.” 

Last month Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons, Warsaw, reported recent issues with pumps at several Leesburg residences. Tenney reported finding wipes, feminine products and other items that should not be flushed.

At Monday night’s meeting, Tenney reported that four pumps had gone down over the past month. Two of the pumps were down due to stator issues. Another one was due to the circuit board. The fourth one was at a residence on Prairie Street. According to Tenney, the pit at that residence was full of wipes, feminine products and other non-flushable items. 

Council President Tom Moore suggested that Tenney hand out papers with information describing what can and cannot be flushed. 

“This is only going to continue. Everyone needs to know that is a violation of a city ordinance,” said Moore. “There is a fine process, and that will start to be enforced if they are going to continue to ignore what they cannot put down the sewer lines.”

Council members agreed that it will be necessary to begin issuing citations for the sewer ordinance violations.

“Let’s issue an ordinance violation and it will stop,” said Street Commissioner Craig Charlton. “It’s happened with the parking issue. It’s happened with the abandoned vehicles. I know you hate to be the bad guy, but you have to be the bad guy.”

“Ultimately what happens is that when your cost of repair continues to go up, the rates have to go up,” Moore stated.

“The violators not only shoot themselves in the foot, they shoot their neighbors in the foot also,” added Council Vice-President Doug Jones.

Other News:

• Council members approved the purchase of two wastewater pumps to replace two that recently failed at the lift station. The pumps will be purchased from Flow-Technics Inc., Illinois, at the price of $15,725.
• Approval was given for Charlton to purchase a rubber wear bar and replacement lights for the plow.
• The 2018 salary ordinance was amended, and the 2019 salary ordinance was approved. 
• Two change orders were approved regarding construction at the town hall building.
• No parking on any street between 3-5 a.m.
• No burning in the town of Leesburg.
• A special meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at 100 W. Van Buren St., Leesburg, regarding encumbrance  funds for the street paving and sealing project.
• The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14. 

Leesburg Clerk-Treasurer Mike Searfoss