LEESBURG – In its 2018 Capital Improvement Plan the Leesburg Town Council approved Monday night, money from the Economic Development Income Tax fund will be used to renovate the old town hall and make it handicapped-accessible.

Council President Tom Moore reminded the council that to spend EDIT money the town has to have a plan in place first. The town of Leesburg’s capital improvement plan is to use EDIT money “for the renovation and remodeling of the Leesburg Town Hall.” The estimated cost to renovate and remodel it is $149,000, with the source of the money for the project being EDIT funds.

“The planning, development and construction of the project is now in process and it is anticipated that the project will be completed in 2018 or 2019,” Moore said.

Changes involve constructing an adjoining meeting room where the old fire truck driveway sits on the building’s west side. The plan also calls for two restrooms on the ground level and some office renovations. The building at the corner of Van Buren and Pearl streets was first used as town hall in 1936, but is not accessible by wheelchair.

Councilman Doug Jones made the motion to approve the plan, with Councilwoman Christina Archer providing the second. It was passed unanimously.

On the plans for the town hall improvements, Archer said that while it has “two lovely restrooms,” it occurred to her that it doesn’t have some type of small sink and cabinet that could be used when preparing coffee, drinks or other similar needs for whoever was working in the office.

After discussing the possible places the sink and cabinet could be, the council agreed those items could be a part of the plans.

“As this proceeds, that could just be something we add in,” Moore said.

Street Commissioner Craig Charlton said that on the existing structure, on the east side, there’s an entrance into the basement. He said he’d like to leave it there to provide access to storage from the outside without having to track through the town hall. He said the east side entrance is pretty secure.

“Obviously, at this juncture, no contracts have been signed, but those ideas have not been forgotten,” Moore said. He then added he expected to have two more bids from contracting firms for the project.

Earlier in the meeting, Charlton reported a sizeable pot hole was filled in the alley behind 104 N. Jefferson St. He said it appeared the old storm water drain that runs east and west has a hole in it, causing a “suck hole.” He estimated it to be 3 feet deep and pretty wide. He put a plug in it.

Moore said that is an active 24-inch tile. Charlton said that was correct and that they need to be careful around it. Moore asked him about digging it up and finding out more about it.



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“That comes all the way from Pearl Street. That’s a section of the old storm sewer that is still active. It goes on west to the alley, and then makes a jaunt north and crosses Van Buren Street,” Moore said.

Charlton said he could have it checked out with a camera, but it would cost about $500 to do so. The council agreed with the idea.

Jones said the town had a similar issue with Pearl Street.

Later in the meeting, Jones reported on some isolated traffic incidents uptown in Leesburg. He said it was “ignorance more than anything.”

“It was addressed. We’ve addressed it a couple of different times. For now, it seems to be under control. As long as it stays the way it is, I don’t see any reason to do anything for now,” Jones said.

Moore asked him if it was a parking problem, but Jones said it wasn’t that.

“No, this is speeding among other things. Like I said, I just wanted to bring it to the board’s attention so they know it’s there. There may come a time when we may want to make a call to somebody from the sheriff’s department and get them up here in short order to deal with it if we need to. We were going to do that the last time it came up, but it’s kind of resolved itself, so we’ll see what happens,” Jones said.

Resident Greg Anderson asked about the town putting more street lighting near the intersection of Ind. 15 and Plum Street.

Moore said the lights are something the utility company does, but said the town can make a suggestion to add lights if a utility pole is there already. It has to be a utility pole, not a private pole. He said if there is a pole that exists, he’d be happy to inquire.

Charlton said that’s an area where he wants to add some speed limit signs. The speed limit in town is 25 mph. He’d also like to add a sign for people to slow down as children may be present.

Jones agreed the area of Ind. 15 and Plum Street was a “dark spot.”

In other business, the council:

• Approved a request from Sue Charlton to have the Leesburg Memorial Day parade and service at 10:30 May 28.

Lineup downtown will be by 10:15 a.m. Public parking will be in the Maple Leaf parking lot.

Service will be at the cemetery following the parade. For more information, contact Craig Charlton at 453-3097; Sue Charlton at 453-3011; or Archer at 453-4961.

• Heard from Sue Charlton who said she called the railroad company about the crossing in town and its current condition. “Do we need to keep calling?” she asked.

“Yeah. They’ve been working down there,” Jones said. “They put cutlines in the Van Buren Street. What’s that about?”

Moore said the railroad is going to do some work on the tracks. He said the town has no control over the railroad tracks and was at the mercy of the railroad.

“We don’t need to keep calling?” Sue asked.

“Absolutely. Keep calling,” Jones said.

“Keep calling. Everyone,” Moore added.

Jones said the public should know the town has been “diligently after these people for months and months and months to get those fixed and we have not been able to get that accomplished. They’re going to make you wait.”

• Heard from Jones that the town received its purchase order for last year’s road work for the Community Crossings grant. He said the town should be receiving its check soon from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Then it will be a simple matter of finishing up the paperwork, Jones said.

• Heard large branch chipping is done on Fridays and Mondays. Yard waste is to be bagged and placed in the trash tote provided by the town. Additional waste placed in the trash totes is to be in bags.

Craig Charlton reported the town’s sidewalk enhancement program is available to help with the replacement of sidewalks in poor condition. Contact town Clerk-Treasurer Mike Searfoss or Charlton for more information.

Sidewalks and trees within the tree lawn are the property and responsibility of the property owner. Sidewalks are to be kept clear to provide safe passage.