LEESBURG - Nearly 80 people attended a public hearing at the Leesburg Lions Building Monday evening.
Since the town is applying for a $500,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to offset some costs of the town's sewer project, the public hearing was held to show the town's interest in the project. It was the second public hearing for grant purposes. The first was in July.
Grant writer Bob Murphy told the crowd, "Indianapolis only wants to give their money to people who want it. Being here indicates to them that you care."
Murphy also said that everything is in place for the grant application, which will be delivered to Indianapolis Friday. The grant will be awarded Nov. 7.
"This is the last piece of the puzzle that fits in," Murphy said. "If you don't get the grant, the project will go ahead anyway."
If the town receives the grant, Murphy said sewer rates would be reduced by about $5 for each household. The grant money also represents $500,000 that the town will not have to borrow and pay back in the long run.
Murphy told citizens to write letters explaining why they want the grant in Leesburg. He said he has received about 50 letters so far, with most saying they want better water quality and need lower rates.
Citizens at the meeting asked Murphy several questions about the project, including when the project would begin and when it would be completed. Murphy said the engineer is ready to bid the project as soon as they hear about the grant.
If the project is bid in November and accepted in January and started in the spring, the project should be completed in 2009. The project is estimated to take about 18 months to complete.
