Leesburg Hopes To Limit Traffic Violations

LEESBURG – Town officials are hoping to put a stop to moving violations seen daily in Leesburg.

Councilman Doug Jones, whose business is at the corner of Prairie and Van Buren streets, told the town council Monday he could provide security footage of 10 to 20 vehicles a day going through the stoplight at that intersection, particularly coming from the east.

There are two problems: The traffic signal is hard to see, and a homeowner’s tree is blocking a stop sign.

Council President Christina Archer asked about the cost of a newer traffic signal, and street superintendent Craig Charlton said he could try to clean the lenses and go with larger bulbs in the current signal. However, he doesn’t think either effort would make a difference.

“It’s not going to stop,” he said. “People who drive through that in the dark clearly see it.”

The limbs blocking the stop sign are not on town property, so it is the homeowner’s responsibility to keep them trimmed. Charlton offered to trim them himself, but later said he would contact the owner to make sure the limbs no longer blocks the sign.

Charlton also said he spoke with a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputy about the problem in April, and he will speak to him again. He said when the town paid an officer to come in for a few hours a day, the problem went away.

“That’s the only way you’re going to stop it,” said Councilman Tom Moore.

Another moving violation - golf carts - came up during the June meeting, and after gathering information council continued that discussion Monday.

Jones said Leesburg and Warsaw are the only towns in the area that don’t have an ordinance regulating golf carts. However, the issue goes beyond that.

“If folks under 16 drive a golf cart they are breaking Indiana law,” Moore said. “We need to have responsible parenting, and it would sure be nice to have cooperation with responsible parenting.”

Absent an ordinance, Charlton said, no one is authorized to use golf carts. Furthermore, “How do we enforce it?” he asked. “You’re walking into a civil issue.”

Jones said he didn’t want to take “any form of conveyance” from older residents.

The council will revisit the issue at its August meeting.

In other business:

• The owner of an abandoned vehicle will be fined $450 - $10 per every day the vehicle has been in violation. Clerk-treasurer Mike Searfoss said the person on whose property the vehicle sits told him he just got the title for it and could finally act. However, Charlton said this vehicle has been tagged twice since the first of the year, and Archer said the person has been given many opportunities to resolve the situation. Moore summed up the matter: “It does little good to have ordinances if you don’t enforce them,” he said. Town attorney Vern Landis will send a letter to the resident.
• Derek Tenney reported wipes are still damaging pods in the town’s sewer system. Searfoss said notices have been sent to all properties and larger placards will be placed in various public locations. Tenney said he has begun to take pictures that show wipes in the damaged pods, and council asked him to begin documenting these violations with dates and times. They also agreed that the cost of any repairs caused by violations should be billed to the property owner. “It’s not fair to the town as a whole” to have to increase rates because a few people continue flush things they shouldn’t, Charlton said.
• Charlton will send out notices to those whose trees have limbs obstructing sidewalks. It is the duty of property owners/tenants to maintain trees to no less than 12 feet above the sidewalk, per town ordinance.
• Two vehicles were cited for parking on town streets between 3 and 5 a.m., a posted violation of town ordinance.
• Autistic warning signs for Prairie Street have been purchased. The signs will be installed this week about two blocks apart.
• Culligan was awarded the bid for a water softener in the new building with the low bid of $1,595. Rabb Kinetico and Aqua Systems also bid on the project.
• The council scheduled a budget workshop for 6 p.m. July 15. The next regular council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12.