Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
LEESBURG - Town council members learned how much a private utility company wants to charge to build a sewer and then informed the firm they want to eventually own the facility.
Advanced Utility Systems, a new firm with local roots, has been talking with Leesburg officials for several months about establishing a private utility, and told the council it projects construction costs to be $2.1 million.
However, the town informed AUS president Joe Dock that it wants to eventually own the utility. Dock earlier talked of a 50-year lease.
Town officials would rather see a 20-year lease, but Dock said the shortest term AUS would be able to provide is about 25 years.
Town council also told Dock it wants a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with the $2.7 million figure.
Dock said he would try to have those figures ready within a few weeks.
AUS is looking at several projects, but Leesburg is the first town with which they've begun some level of negotiating.
AUS has proposed designing, building and operating the utility that would serve the entire town.
Dock was joined by Dale Tucker, a former Warsaw mayor who is employed with the firm.
Tucker is working as a salesman and provides insight for the company with his background in local and state government, Dock said.
The town has looked at several options, including a proposal by one engineering firm in which monthly sewer payments would have exceeded $60.
Dock said they can provide a less-expensive system through privatization.
In other matters, council president Bob Cleveland said they will look into reports of loose dogs running around town and a re-emergence of junked cars.
The town's annual Memorial Day Parade is set for May 25. Youth are encouraged to bring their decorated bikes and wagons to the south side of Van Buren Street near the town hall for judging by 10:15 a.m. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m.
Parade organizers are Sandra Allen, Marilyn Hartman and Sue Charlton.
