Leesburg Officials Unhappy With Plan
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
LEESBURG - The town facilities plan is nearly complete, but the Leesburg Town Council is not happy with the way things are turning out.
Consultant Joe Tierney reviewed the status of the facilities plan with the council Monday, mentioning just a few loose ends that need to be tied up before the public hearing. But his request for an authorized signature for documents connected with the project brought a heated response from council president Bob Cleveland.
"With one council member resigning and one opposed to the project, if Steve (Rodgers) doesn't sign the project comes to a halt," Cleveland said. "I will not sign - I do not support it."
The facilities plan is one of the steps needed to construct a proposed sewer treatment plant for the town.
Council fears the high cost of the project would put too much of a burden on Leesburg residents. As it stands, residents will pay a $66 monthly sewer fee if the project is approved.
Tierney showed the council a letter to be sent to state legislators asking for assistance with the project. The letter asked for nearly $1.39 million - half the project cost.
If the state awarded Leesburg $1 million, Tierney said, the monthly fee would drop to $49. But council thinks that figure is still too high.
"We want to get enough so operating costs can be $28-$30 a month," said Rodgers.
The council instructed Tierney to change the town's request to $3 million. The letter will be sent to Sen. Kent Adams, Sen. Bob Meeks and Rep. Dave Wolkins.
The council will conduct the public hearing at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Lions Building. The facilities plan will be on display at the elevator, First National Bank and the town hall by Jan. 31, and town residents are asked to review the plan before attending the hearing with their comments.
The period for comment will remain open for 10 days after the hearing. All responses will be included in the facilities plan when it is sent to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for a recommendation.
In other business:
4 Lois Jones resigned from the council for personal reasons, effective immediately. Jones served on the council six years. Anyone interested in serving on the council should contact Cleveland, Harold Jones or Mike Miner, who will appoint Jones' replacement.
4 The council voted to offer the sidewalk program again this year. The town will pay up to $500 for cement to the first 10 residents who want to repair their sidewalks. The resident is responsible for the cost of putting the sidewalk in. Interested residents may contact any council member. [[In-content Ad]]
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LEESBURG - The town facilities plan is nearly complete, but the Leesburg Town Council is not happy with the way things are turning out.
Consultant Joe Tierney reviewed the status of the facilities plan with the council Monday, mentioning just a few loose ends that need to be tied up before the public hearing. But his request for an authorized signature for documents connected with the project brought a heated response from council president Bob Cleveland.
"With one council member resigning and one opposed to the project, if Steve (Rodgers) doesn't sign the project comes to a halt," Cleveland said. "I will not sign - I do not support it."
The facilities plan is one of the steps needed to construct a proposed sewer treatment plant for the town.
Council fears the high cost of the project would put too much of a burden on Leesburg residents. As it stands, residents will pay a $66 monthly sewer fee if the project is approved.
Tierney showed the council a letter to be sent to state legislators asking for assistance with the project. The letter asked for nearly $1.39 million - half the project cost.
If the state awarded Leesburg $1 million, Tierney said, the monthly fee would drop to $49. But council thinks that figure is still too high.
"We want to get enough so operating costs can be $28-$30 a month," said Rodgers.
The council instructed Tierney to change the town's request to $3 million. The letter will be sent to Sen. Kent Adams, Sen. Bob Meeks and Rep. Dave Wolkins.
The council will conduct the public hearing at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Lions Building. The facilities plan will be on display at the elevator, First National Bank and the town hall by Jan. 31, and town residents are asked to review the plan before attending the hearing with their comments.
The period for comment will remain open for 10 days after the hearing. All responses will be included in the facilities plan when it is sent to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for a recommendation.
In other business:
4 Lois Jones resigned from the council for personal reasons, effective immediately. Jones served on the council six years. Anyone interested in serving on the council should contact Cleveland, Harold Jones or Mike Miner, who will appoint Jones' replacement.
4 The council voted to offer the sidewalk program again this year. The town will pay up to $500 for cement to the first 10 residents who want to repair their sidewalks. The resident is responsible for the cost of putting the sidewalk in. Interested residents may contact any council member. [[In-content Ad]]