Leesburg Continues Debate Over Sewers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
LEESBURG -ÊThe ongoing discussion about putting a sewer system in Leesburg was the main topic at the town council meeting Monday.
A standing-room only crowd filled the town hall and listened as Julia Graham from GRW Engineers, Indianapolis, and Jeffery Rowe of Umbaugh and Associates presented more information on a potential sewer system that could run from the town down Old 15 and connect to Warsaw's wastewater treatment plant.
During last month's meeting, the town council was presented with a plan that would use a low-pressure sewer system running into Warsaw, which would cost each resident $61.80 per month.
Graham and Rowe presented a revised plan they said factored in things such as inflation that increased the proposed monthly rate per resident 22 percent to $75.60.
Graham said the cost could go down should the town join Maple Leaf Farms and Whispering Pines trailer park in the project.
Bob Cleveland and Jerry Kammerer, Leesburg residents and former town council members, argued the proposed monthly rate was too much for residents to afford.
Earlier in the meeting, representatives from Phend and Brown, Frontline Manufacturing, Polk Farms and several other businesses along Ind. 15 asked whether a sewer line going south on Ind. 15 was explored.
Larry Polk, of Polk Farms, asked Graham whether GRW pursued the idea of building the line down Ind. 15 instead of Old 15.
Polk said he had "cost estimates and knew who owned 80 percent of the land" along Ind. 15 and believed obtaining easements from those landowners wouldn't be a problem.
Graham expressed concern about building down Ind. 15 because of the potential of Warsaw widening the road in the future due to the commercial development that continues.
Cleveland said he wanted to know whether GRW pursued a sewer plan that dealt solely with residents in the downtown area of Leesburg. He said the sewer issue only affects the downtown area and not the two subdivisions that are also considered part of the town.
Rowe said businesses pay more than residents and that should a business be added to the line before completion, it could decrease the monthly rate for residents. However, should any business tap into the line after completion of the system it would not result in lower monthly bills for Leesburg residents.
The board also discussed the possibility that if a sewer system went in, it could cause developments to build up around Leesburg.
Kammerer said if the sewer line goes in on Ind. 15, "it'll benefit (business). I could care if Leesburg grew. What do we need to grow for? Warsaw is going to grab us quick enough."
"We're going to have to go over all of this," said town board president Rick Stookey. "Because you can't force people to pay that much."
The idea of simply not complying with the agreed order the town entered to remedy the sewer system was discussed. The fine for that is $25,000 per day.
Cleveland asked if the project had moved too far along where the town couldn't stop it. He also said he would try and get a court injunction if necessary.
Stookey assured residents that nothing was "etched in stone."
Town Attorney Vern Landis reviewed the agreed order the town entered into with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The town agreed to start construction in 2007 with a system online by the end of 2008.
Landis said the 22 percent rate increase was "sobering" and that Graham and GRW should explore the downtown and Ind. 15 plans. Landis said the downtown plan would be more expensive for residents and that it may force business out of Leesburg.
Stookey then instructed Graham to have GRW explore the Ind. 15 and downtown plans.
The board also approved a recommendation to have residents personally notified of any public meeting concerning the sewer issue.
In other business, the board listened to Pastor Noble Pulsipher of Reflections of Christ Ministries in Leesburg. Pulsipher organized an event Saturday to recognize police and firefighters. He said he was "disappointed at the town people for not coming out but encouraged with the understanding it was the first year for the event and he received support from local businesses."
Town board members are Stookey, Ryan Robinson and Jay Weaver. [[In-content Ad]]
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LEESBURG -ÊThe ongoing discussion about putting a sewer system in Leesburg was the main topic at the town council meeting Monday.
A standing-room only crowd filled the town hall and listened as Julia Graham from GRW Engineers, Indianapolis, and Jeffery Rowe of Umbaugh and Associates presented more information on a potential sewer system that could run from the town down Old 15 and connect to Warsaw's wastewater treatment plant.
During last month's meeting, the town council was presented with a plan that would use a low-pressure sewer system running into Warsaw, which would cost each resident $61.80 per month.
Graham and Rowe presented a revised plan they said factored in things such as inflation that increased the proposed monthly rate per resident 22 percent to $75.60.
Graham said the cost could go down should the town join Maple Leaf Farms and Whispering Pines trailer park in the project.
Bob Cleveland and Jerry Kammerer, Leesburg residents and former town council members, argued the proposed monthly rate was too much for residents to afford.
Earlier in the meeting, representatives from Phend and Brown, Frontline Manufacturing, Polk Farms and several other businesses along Ind. 15 asked whether a sewer line going south on Ind. 15 was explored.
Larry Polk, of Polk Farms, asked Graham whether GRW pursued the idea of building the line down Ind. 15 instead of Old 15.
Polk said he had "cost estimates and knew who owned 80 percent of the land" along Ind. 15 and believed obtaining easements from those landowners wouldn't be a problem.
Graham expressed concern about building down Ind. 15 because of the potential of Warsaw widening the road in the future due to the commercial development that continues.
Cleveland said he wanted to know whether GRW pursued a sewer plan that dealt solely with residents in the downtown area of Leesburg. He said the sewer issue only affects the downtown area and not the two subdivisions that are also considered part of the town.
Rowe said businesses pay more than residents and that should a business be added to the line before completion, it could decrease the monthly rate for residents. However, should any business tap into the line after completion of the system it would not result in lower monthly bills for Leesburg residents.
The board also discussed the possibility that if a sewer system went in, it could cause developments to build up around Leesburg.
Kammerer said if the sewer line goes in on Ind. 15, "it'll benefit (business). I could care if Leesburg grew. What do we need to grow for? Warsaw is going to grab us quick enough."
"We're going to have to go over all of this," said town board president Rick Stookey. "Because you can't force people to pay that much."
The idea of simply not complying with the agreed order the town entered to remedy the sewer system was discussed. The fine for that is $25,000 per day.
Cleveland asked if the project had moved too far along where the town couldn't stop it. He also said he would try and get a court injunction if necessary.
Stookey assured residents that nothing was "etched in stone."
Town Attorney Vern Landis reviewed the agreed order the town entered into with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The town agreed to start construction in 2007 with a system online by the end of 2008.
Landis said the 22 percent rate increase was "sobering" and that Graham and GRW should explore the downtown and Ind. 15 plans. Landis said the downtown plan would be more expensive for residents and that it may force business out of Leesburg.
Stookey then instructed Graham to have GRW explore the Ind. 15 and downtown plans.
The board also approved a recommendation to have residents personally notified of any public meeting concerning the sewer issue.
In other business, the board listened to Pastor Noble Pulsipher of Reflections of Christ Ministries in Leesburg. Pulsipher organized an event Saturday to recognize police and firefighters. He said he was "disappointed at the town people for not coming out but encouraged with the understanding it was the first year for the event and he received support from local businesses."
Town board members are Stookey, Ryan Robinson and Jay Weaver. [[In-content Ad]]