Leesburg Sewer Project Proceeding On Schedule
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
LEESBURG - The Leesburg Town Council met Monday for its regular monthly meeting.
Joe Tierney, GRW Engineers, provided an update on sewer project activities, which are proceeding on schedule. He and members of the town council responded to several questions posed by residents and business owners attending the meeting.
Questions address during the meeting included:
• "Should estimated costs be broken down for specific locations in Leesburg and for other, more specific items?" Rick Stookey, Leesburg town council president asked, adding, "We're all in this together." Plans are to include all locations in the town.
• "Should we look into some kind of fund for people who will have difficulty paying the $70 a month for sewer service, especially longtime residents?" Tierney said the monthly charge pays for debt, operations and depreciation, and is equally applied to all residents. Questions also were addressed about the costs to churches with limited usage and possibly serving the church and adjacent parsonage with one service.
• "Are there any plans for a PR campaign?" Yes. Tierney provided an initial supply of letters to residents and the handouts with frequently asked questions and answers.
• "When will construction start?" Tierney responded, saying that
"The best-case scenario time-wise would be next summer. The biggest issues are easements and funding from Rural Affairs."
• Discussion also included grinder pump placements.
Representatives of Tusing Brothers and Gilsinger John Deere were present to discuss the specific location south of the pump station along the west side of Ind. 15 south of Leesburg. Both were agreeable to having the pumping station on their property; Tusing Brothers was selected as the first choice, with Gilsinger as a backup. The grinder pumps will feed to the pumping station, which will transport the sewage to the connection with Warsaw sewer service at CR 400N.
The west side of Ind. 15 was selected due to the possibility of the state widening Ind. 15. Although no money is allocated for widening, the right-of-way for Ind. 15 is on the east side of the road.
Other items presented by Tierney and discussed were:
• The archaeological report has been completed and sent to the state.
• The next step for the grant from the office of Rural Affairs is to work with the field office in Columbia City on funding commitment and easement processes.
• Full sets of the preliminary plans will be available at the next meeting for discussion.
• Plans are to have someone from the grinder pump supplier come to the town council meeting to show the grinder pump and explain how it works on residents' properties.
• Specific grinder pump locations will be reviewed and discussed during an upcoming meeting, possibly August.
• Plans are to purposely stay away from running pipe down the brick streets in Leesburg.
• Negotiations for the agreement with Warsaw still are underway.
Discussion also included the receipt of $38,500 from EDIT, and how it is to be used, possibly to start a sewer fund or "help those in need."
It was agreed that property value will be increased with the new sewer system, although there's an issue of how much taxes may go up with the increase in property value.
Stookey thanked Carolyn Beatty for her service as clerk/treasurer of the Board. Vern Landis, attorney for Leesburg, swore in Melissa Robinson as the new clerk/treasurer.
The next meeting will be July 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Representing Leesburg were: Beatty, outgoing clerk/treasurer; board members Ryan Robinson, Stookey and Jay Weaver; Landis; and Ed Riordan, street commissioner. [[In-content Ad]]
LEESBURG - The Leesburg Town Council met Monday for its regular monthly meeting.
Joe Tierney, GRW Engineers, provided an update on sewer project activities, which are proceeding on schedule. He and members of the town council responded to several questions posed by residents and business owners attending the meeting.
Questions address during the meeting included:
• "Should estimated costs be broken down for specific locations in Leesburg and for other, more specific items?" Rick Stookey, Leesburg town council president asked, adding, "We're all in this together." Plans are to include all locations in the town.
• "Should we look into some kind of fund for people who will have difficulty paying the $70 a month for sewer service, especially longtime residents?" Tierney said the monthly charge pays for debt, operations and depreciation, and is equally applied to all residents. Questions also were addressed about the costs to churches with limited usage and possibly serving the church and adjacent parsonage with one service.
• "Are there any plans for a PR campaign?" Yes. Tierney provided an initial supply of letters to residents and the handouts with frequently asked questions and answers.
• "When will construction start?" Tierney responded, saying that
"The best-case scenario time-wise would be next summer. The biggest issues are easements and funding from Rural Affairs."
• Discussion also included grinder pump placements.
Representatives of Tusing Brothers and Gilsinger John Deere were present to discuss the specific location south of the pump station along the west side of Ind. 15 south of Leesburg. Both were agreeable to having the pumping station on their property; Tusing Brothers was selected as the first choice, with Gilsinger as a backup. The grinder pumps will feed to the pumping station, which will transport the sewage to the connection with Warsaw sewer service at CR 400N.
The west side of Ind. 15 was selected due to the possibility of the state widening Ind. 15. Although no money is allocated for widening, the right-of-way for Ind. 15 is on the east side of the road.
Other items presented by Tierney and discussed were:
• The archaeological report has been completed and sent to the state.
• The next step for the grant from the office of Rural Affairs is to work with the field office in Columbia City on funding commitment and easement processes.
• Full sets of the preliminary plans will be available at the next meeting for discussion.
• Plans are to have someone from the grinder pump supplier come to the town council meeting to show the grinder pump and explain how it works on residents' properties.
• Specific grinder pump locations will be reviewed and discussed during an upcoming meeting, possibly August.
• Plans are to purposely stay away from running pipe down the brick streets in Leesburg.
• Negotiations for the agreement with Warsaw still are underway.
Discussion also included the receipt of $38,500 from EDIT, and how it is to be used, possibly to start a sewer fund or "help those in need."
It was agreed that property value will be increased with the new sewer system, although there's an issue of how much taxes may go up with the increase in property value.
Stookey thanked Carolyn Beatty for her service as clerk/treasurer of the Board. Vern Landis, attorney for Leesburg, swore in Melissa Robinson as the new clerk/treasurer.
The next meeting will be July 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Representing Leesburg were: Beatty, outgoing clerk/treasurer; board members Ryan Robinson, Stookey and Jay Weaver; Landis; and Ed Riordan, street commissioner. [[In-content Ad]]