Pictured, from left, Council Member Doug Jones, Vice-President Tom Moore, President Christina Archer

LEESBURG — Two ordinance amendments were approved at the town council meeting held Monday, April 8. The first was related to yard maintenance and the blockage of sidewalks, while the second addressed the ordinance fine system.

The updated fine system includes a general penalty of $25 for a first offense, $100 for the second offense and $200 for the third offense.

A complete list of town ordinances may be found at www.leesburgindiana.com/information

Regarding the main lift station, Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons Inc., Warsaw, said the system has been running on utility power and that capacitors have not yet been installed. 

“How many days or weeks has it been running on utility power?” asked Council Vice-President Tom Moore.

“Three weeks,” Tenney replied.

“I just find it quizzical that we’ve had finger-pointing at utility power and yet it’s been running just fine for the last three weeks on utility power,” said Moore. “If we don’t need those capacitors then we’re not going to buy them.”

Tenney is making arrangements for detailed testing in order to get an accurate reading. 

Street Commissioner Craig Charlton advised that Leesburg residents who would like a second trash tote, in addition to the one provided to them by the town, may contact Advanced Disposal, Claypool, to make arrangements and set up billing for the second tote, at a cost of $10 per month. 

Council members agreed that the $10 fee needs to include all residents with two totes.

Moore asked if the other council members are still willing to go through sewer bond refinancing as long as the town can save some money. 

The refinancing option was first addressed in November 2017 when Jeff Rowe of Umbaugh & Associates, Indianapolis, and Dennis Otten of Bose McKinney & Evans LLP, Indianapolis, attended the town council meeting to discuss interest rates and advantages related to refinancing. 

When Council Member Doug Jones and Council President Christina Archer responded in the affirmative, Moore cautioned that there will not be a reduction in sewer bills due to refinancing the sewer bond.

“It’s practically impossible to go through the daily usage and refine any of that. Refinancing the debt — that’s only the debt — does not have any effect on the monthly bill,” said Moore, explaining that the government program does not allow the debt to be lowered, only that the term be shortened; therefore, the annual payments made by the town will stay the same.

“With the Warsaw sewage, their new plant that they’re gonna build, we’re gonna see some increases,” said Jones, “and the way we fight against that to maintain our current sewer bill is to implement things like this new bond, which takes some of the load off us.”

Moore stated he will make a call to begin this process.

Leesburg Resident Connie Watters addressed council members regarding a previous complaint concerning her dogs. “They do bark, that’s what dogs do,” said Watters. “My dogs aren’t the only ones that bark in this town.”

She also stated her dogs were not outside during the polar vortex, despite a comment made to the contrary at a prior meeting.

“To receive a letter in the mail — blindsided — for living here in this town for 23 years and to not have the respect from this board to personally come and say something to us,” Watters said. “We were hurt.”

Charlton explained that the town has to respond to official complaints in a way that is documented.

“It has to start somewhere,” said Charlton. “A friendly letter — it wasn’t anything threatening anybody, it was simply saying here are the ordinances, review the situation.”

Other News:

• The Leesburg Memorial Day Parade will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, with line-up beginning at 10 a.m. Following the parade, a memorial service will be held at the cemetery.
• The Leesburg town garage sale will be held the weekend of June 7-8. Town clean-up will be held the weekend of June 21-22.
•  Jones presented a signed contract from the State of Indiana for road repair work. 
• Tenney said they were called to Leesburg Elementary School due to valves that were cracked and starting to break. The valves were replaced over spring break.
• Moore spoke with the owner of Stacy’s Restaurant and was informed that the restaurant is tentatively expected to reopen next week. 
• The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 13. 

Stacy’s Restaurant is tentatively scheduled to reopen sometime next week.