LEESBURG — Non-elected town officials will receive a 3.5% increase in 2025.
The 2025 salary ordinance was approved at the Leesburg Town Council meeting Monday.
“I’ve always viewed small town service as just that … it’s community service,” Councilman Tom Moore said. “But none of us are going to be here forever and we have to be looking at replacements and who is willing to do certain things for a nominal amount of money. I’m okay with three and a half percent for everyone excluding the elected officials. I’m not in favor of giving myself a raise.”
“We never have,” Council Vice President Christina Archer agreed, “And I don’t seen any reason to change that.”
Council President Mitch Rader was in agreement, stating, “We serve because we’re interested in the town.”
Street Commissioner Craig Charlton provided a monthly street department report and asked that residents who want their leaves picked up by the town leaf loader have their leaves close to the street but not in the street.
“Having the leaves in the street causes several problems,” Charlton said. “In the grass is where they need to be. We can reach about five feet in without a problem.”
In another matter, council approved a revised town property/park ordinance following a public hearing. The ordinance prohibits sleeping/loitering in areas owned or maintained by the town. The ordinance revision stemmed from complaints received about people sleeping in the park in Leesburg over the summer. No comments were made during the public hearing.
Council also approved purchase of an EMEET streaming camera along with a tripod, portable external SSD and technical service in the amount of $719 following a presentation from Doug Jones, owner of Mastermind Computers in Leesburg.
The purchase was made in anticipation of a new law that will take effect July 1, 2025, requiring all government meetings in Indiana to be live-streamed or recorded for the purpose of increasing transparency among local governments.
In other news:
• The 2024 Christmas Candelaria will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
• A representative from Waste Management contacted Leesburg Clerk-Treasurer Mike Searfoss to inform him that the company plans to change trash pickup days in town from Friday to Thursday. At this time, there is no official start date for this change, but the company stated they will give residents advance notice.
• Reminders: No parking on any street between 3-5 a.m. daily; No burning in town; Be mindful of what you flush
The next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9.