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

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG — Leesburg is moving forward with a walkways and bikeways project initiated by a pledge from the K21 Foundation.

At the Town Council meeting Monday, Aug. 10, Council Vice-President Christina Archer said that in order to proceed with the project, the town will have to have a plan in place and estimates on the cost involved. 

Archer said she and Leesburg Street Commissioner Craig Charlton have had discussions about this and concluded that the best way to approach the project is to start with one mile that would include going up and down Van Buren Street on both sides. 

“Hopefully in the future, there will be money to extend it more than that, but that would give us a first mile to get started with at least,” Archer said.

Archer will obtain estimates for the project and a plan will be drawn up in order to complete the application process. 

In another matter, Council President Doug Jones said it has come to the attention of the council over the last few months that it may be time to revisit the topic of area plan commission membership.

“From the town’s point of view and for the future, it may be the best for our town to do that, but I think there should be plenty of time given for questions, quite possibly another town meeting with the public invited so they can ask questions directly,” Council Member Tom Moore said.

Jones pointed out that Kosciusko County has a perfectly good plan commission so that would be a good option. 

Another option, Jones said, would be for the town to develop their own area plan commission. 

It was agreed that the topic would be continued at next month’s meeting. 

Council Member Tom Moore

Charlton presented a monthly report with information about the status of equipment and ordinance violations. 

He said three parking violations were issued in the same area. This is where problems have been occurring for some time, he said, and civil action may need to be taken if this continues. Fines have been levied but have not been paid. 

The Van Buren Street curb project started this week, Charlton said, and phase one will include the north side of Van Buren starting at SR 15.

Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons, Inc. presented a sanitary sewer report. A pump at the school was burned up, Tenney said, and wipes were discovered in the pump. 

Tenney said the town is being billed for pump repairs.

“That comes to an end,” said Moore. “When you find objects that are prohibited from being flushed…we need to take that up with the school because that’s their bill to pay.”

Moore said he would make contact with a representative of the school this week to discuss the issue. 

Public information:

• No parking on any street between 3-5 am
• No burning
• Please be mindful of what you flush
• Speed Limits in town are 25 mph
• Next regular meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Sept.14