Pictured, from left, Leesburg Town Council President Christina Archer and Vice-President Tom Moore.

LEESBURG — In the continuing saga of sewer issues, Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons, Warsaw, provided an update, including a power point presentation, at the Leesburg Town Council meeting held Monday, Feb. 11.

Tenney informed board members that recorders are being monitored by H&G Services, Elkhart, and NIPSCO to measure the power system at the main lift station. This is due to continuing call-outs from the lift station related to tripping breakers. 

“Every time the pumps kick on, the voltage drops way below tolerance,” said Tenney.

Tenney said the generator quit working recently and went into emergency shutdown mode. The remote emergency shutdown switch will be replaced with an upgraded model and a water pump seal will be repaired once power source issues have been resolved. 

The line going into the lift station was replaced, as well as ductile iron pipe and valves through the entire bypass system. Work was completed by Tenney & Sons and Everest Excavating, Warsaw.

Town Council President Christina Archer created a form for Tenney to pass out to residents when unapproved items are found in pump pits.

“We’re going to have to put a stop to this,” said Town Council Vice-President Tom Moore. “If the homeowner is going to ignore the letters then we’ll have no recourse but to go after them with fines.”

Two residents from East Prairie Street, a male and female, reported an ongoing issue with barking dogs. The barking is coming from the same location, according to the residents. There were three dogs living at that location, according to the male, who said there is now a fourth dog. 

“The barking is constant. It starts as early as 4:30 in the morning and it will go all day long,” the male stated. “I’ve talked to them about it and they don’t want to do anything about it.”

“The dogs have been out in the severe cold and when they bark like that I don’t blame them,” he added.

“Our street commissioner is, according to the ordinance, empowered to issue citations,” said Archer. “I’m especially concerned that in the brutally cold weather we’ve had when it was close to 20 below zero, animals were outside – because in most of the communities around here that in itself would not have been something that was legal, not providing sufficient shelter.”

“They’re chained up,” said the female resident. “I believe their chain is long enough for them to get into the barn. Whether or not it’s sufficiently warm I don’t know, but that’s beside the point. We’re tired of hearing the dogs from sun-up to sundown.”

It was decided that a warning letter would be issued to the owners of the dogs informing them they are in violation of the town ordinance. If the problem is not adequately addressed, a citation will be issued, which will include a fine.

Upon discussion of an appropriate time frame for the owner of the dogs to resolve the situation, the female resident spoke up, stating, “As a neighbor and an animal lover, I would at least recommend 30 days.”

Council members agreed that 30 days would be an appropriate amount of time. 

Other News:

• Leesburg Street Commissioner Craig Charlton presented a monthly report.
• Council members will be reviewing ordinance fines to ensure they are up to date and consistent. 
• Due to a previous lift station overflow, a spill release form must be filled out and signed by town council members. 
• $140,000 was approved for transfer from the town EDIT fund to the general fund for payments on the ADA compliance addition to the town hall building.
• Town Council Member Doug Jones reported the Community Crossings grant has been approved and the contract is ready to be sent to Indiana Department of Transportation.
• No parking on any street between 3-5 a.m.
• No burning in the town of Leesburg.
• The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 11.

Leesburg Street Commissioner Craig Charlton

Pictured, from left, Leesburg Clerk-Treasurer Mike Searfoss and Council Member Doug Jones.