From left, Leesburg Councilman Mitch Rader, Council Vice-President Tom Moore and Council President Christina Archer. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG —  Progress is being made on properties in violation of town ordinances, according to Leesburg Town Council. 

The property improvements were discussed during the council’s monthly meeting Monday, Dec.11.

“We have had very good response,” Councilman Mitch Rader announced. “We’ve got quite a few of them that are completed and a lot of them have made good progress.”

Street Commissioner Craig Charlton recommended that the town hold off on penalties at this time for those who are making an effort to bring their properties into compliance.

Rader said, “We really appreciate what everybody has done as far as cleaning up and doing at least what we’ve asked for.”

In another matter, Rader discussed the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program.

Launched in 2016, the program provides funding to cities, towns and counties across Indiana to make improvements to local roads and bridges.

Rader said the application has been submitted and approved, so the town will be able to file paperwork when the grant opens up in January. 

According to Rader, an area of concern is School Street, which is listed as being the responsibility of Kosciusko County. 

Charlton said the road is only 0.47 miles and is so minuscule that it has basically been forgotten about, although the county has received some funding from the state for the road. 

“Out of no fault of the county or Steve (Moriarty, Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent), it’s one of those roads that has basically been forgotten about,” Charlton said. 

Charlton said a suggestion was made that the town of Leesburg take that road over; however, Charlton said, the town will not want to annex that road in while the road is in poor condition. 

Charlton and Rader agreed to continue working with the county to see what can be done. 

Regarding the K21 Walking Path Project, Council President Christina Archer said the total cost for the project exceeded the $200,000 grant provided by K21. The total cost amounted to approximately an additional $43,000. 

A motion was made and approved to have legal counsel begin the process for additional appropriations in the amount of $50,000. 

Lastly, council members would like to remind residents of the following: no parking on any street between 3-5 a.m. every day; no burning anything, any time; please be mindful of what you flush; street department cell number is (574) 527-2884.

In other news:

• The next regular meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8.