LEESBURG - Survey work is finished and the preliminary layout plans for the new Leesburg drainage project are nearly done.
Monday night at its regular meeting, the Leesburg Town Council heard an update on the progress of the project from GRW Engineering representative Jessica Hartman.Hartman told the board that the group's primary concern is preserving the town's brick streets.
The group believes that most of the system will be able to be installed without disrupting most streets.
Joe Tierney, also of GRW, gave an update on an odor issue with the sewer system. Tierney said complaints have been received about odor from the sewer near the former racquet club on Ind. 15. He said that so far the flow through the system is not as high as expected, but all residents are not hooked into the system, and the new Leesburg Elementary is not open so it is not using the system yet.
To try to deal with the odor issue, a system that pumps chemicals that inhibit the growth of bacteria into the sewer will be tested. Since it is a trial offer, the town only will have to pay for the chemicals, not the equipment.
In other business, the council:
n Approved a motion to send a letter to reserve water from the Lake Michigan Watershed. According to Mike Halesworth, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Lake Michigan Watershed will soon limit the water used by outside sources. If the town wants to have a community drinking water system in the future, they will need to use water from the Lake Michigan Watershed or have water brought in from an outside source. However, if they do not request the use of the water now, permission may not be given in the future.
There is no charge to request the reserve, and Halesworth said it would be a good idea in case it is needed in the future.
n Heard concerns from a town resident about what happens to people who are not paying their sewer bills. Clerk-Treasurer Melissa Robinson said she has contacted people and sent letters, and after the sewer has been up and running for a year, a lien can be placed on the houses of residents who choose not to pay.
n Accepted a $10,000 grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for the sewer project.
n Heard leaf pickup in town is underway and will continue until the first snowfall.
