From left, Council Member Doug Jones, Council President Christina Archer, Council Vice-President Tom Moore. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels.

LEESBURG — Leesburg Street Commissioner Craig Charlton recommended the purchase of two pieces of equipment at the Leesburg Town Council meeting Monday, Dec. 9. 

Charlton told council members he obtained four quotes for a skid steer snow pusher for the town Bobcat skid loader. Charlton said the 5-foot bucket they currently have is “a lot of work to not get much accomplished.”

He said an 8-foot snow pusher would be sufficient because the alleys in town would be a tight fit for a 10-foot snow pusher.

Town Clerk-Treasurer Michael Searfoss said funds are available. Purchase of an 8-foot skid steer mount snow pusher from Polk Auction Company in New Paris for $1,600 was approved by council members.

The other item Charlton recommended is a backup camera for the town plow truck. Average prices were discussed, as well as the option to buy a magnetic camera so that it could be adjusted as needed.

“We have some streets here in town that are dead-end streets and some alleys where we do a lot of backing and for $130, that’s a piece of technology that could save you an insurance claim,” said Council Member Doug Jones.

“As long as you keep the eye clean,” Council Vice-President Tom Moore added. “Otherwise it doesn’t do you any good.”

“If it keeps you from backing into one item, you’ve paid for it,” Jones said. 

A motion was made and passed for the purchase of a backup camera to be used for the town plow.

Leaf pickup ended Dec. 2, with 115 loads collected from the town streets. Charlton expressed thanks to Ferguson Farms for the use of their compost area. 

Charlton said he put flyers in the door of each residence this year asking that leaves be raked to the streets and requesting that no sticks or branches be mixed in because they plug up the motor of the leaf vac.  

“I think that was a big help,” Charlton said. “I saw a considerable change. We only had to tear it apart once.”

Charlton said the previous year it had to be taken apart five times due to being jammed.

“I think it bears noting that tearing that apart is not a two-minute job,” Jones pointed out. Charlton said it takes about two and a half hours.

Trash pickup will be affected by the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, which are both on Wednesdays this year. Trash pickup will occur these weeks on Saturday and will begin at 6 a.m. Charlton suggests that residents place their trash outside the night before.

A sanitary sewer report was given by Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons, Warsaw, who said there are still issues with utilities being located and marked. 

“They’re not marking everything like they’re supposed to be,” Tenney said.

Moore said he will contact USIC Locating Services, Warsaw, and ask that a representative from the company attend the January town council meeting. 

Ordinance 2019-7 was approved as presented. The ordinance deals with salaries for town employees and representatives of the town of Leesburg for the year 2020. The street commissioner salary was listed as $21 per hour; clerk-treasurer at $17,000 annually; sewage clerk at $8,450 annually; deputy clerk-treasurer at $15 per hour; town council members at $2,000 annually each; and town attorney at $4,250 annually.

Town Council President Christina Archer said she would like to thank the Leesburg 4-H Club, Scouts BSA Troop 729, Cub Scout Troop 3729 and the Leesburg Girl Scout troop as well as Charlton’s mother, Sue, for their assistance at the annual Candelaria.

Other News:

• Ordinance 2019-6 for the Rainy Day Fund was approved as presented.
• A representative from the K-21 Foundation was unable to attend the December meeting and will instead attend the January Leesburg town council meeting.
• Payment for the November election in the amount of  $1,124.34 was approved.
• No parking on any street between 3-5 a.m.
• No burning in Leesburg.
• The next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13. 

Leesburg Clerk-Treasurer Michael Searfoss. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels.