Leesburg Presents Estimated Budget Numbers For 2011
Posted
Jen Gibson-jgibson@timesuniononline.com
LEESBURG - It's budget time in Leesburg.
Monday night at the regular meeting of the Leesburg Town Council, Clerk-Treasurer Jan Carter presented estimated numbers to be advertised for the 2011 budget.
The general fund is listed at $149,450, while the motor vehicle/highway fund totaled $96,250. The County Economic Development Income fund was listed at $60,000, the Cumulative Capital Improvement fund was $3,000. The budget includes $10,000 for the Rainy Day Fund, $10,000 for the Local Roads and Streets Fund and $4,000 in the Riverboat fund.
The budget will be advertised for two weeks and then it will be up for council approval Oct. 11. There will be a budget hearing Sept. 13.
Carter told council members Doug Jones and Thomas Moore that she had a meeting from a representative from the state about a month ago and she was told that everything looked good.
Carter also told the council that while the software used for the sewer billing was working exactly as it is supposed to, she believes that the budget software the town purchased is not designed for a town as small as Leesburg.
In other business, the council:
n Heard the storm water project is moving along quickly, and the project should reach the corner of Canal and Van Buren streets by Friday or Monday.
n Heard quotes for road paving in the town. There was a quote from Phend & Brown to remove and reconstruct Hickory Street from Church Street to Prairie Street. Bids also were received from Ranger Material to prepare and coat Hickory, Pearl and Yvonna streets and the alley south of The Keg Tavern.
Since the quotes were not of the same processes, council members asked for more information about the coating process, including how long it lasts and how it is done.
Street Commissioner Brandon Queen said he would get the information and present it to the council at the September meeting.
n Decided a deadline should be set for connection to the sewer system. Currently, five residences have not connected to the sewer system, but of those, two will be connected in the next few weeks.
"My opinion is that we enforce the ordinance," Moore said.
Originally people were supposed to be connected to the system by last December, but nothing was enforced. The deadline to connect to the sewer is now Nov. 30.
n Decided to create a one-time resolution to help take care of sewer bill arrearages.
Once the resolution is passed, those who are behind in paying their sewer bills may have a chance to catch up by making payment arrangements. If the arrangements are met properly, the town will waive the late fees on the overdue bills. However, this is only a one-time offer for those who already are in arrears on their sewer bills.
Currently, there are 57 people who could possibly be part of the special arrangement.
Town attorney Vern Landis will draft a resolution and bring it to the September meeting.
n Reminded residents that there will be a caucus Aug. 19 to fill the council position vacated by Rick Stookey's resignation. The caucus will be at 7 p.m. in the town hall.
Those interested in the position must file a Declaration of Candidacy with Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Randall Girod no later than 72 hours before the commencement of the caucus. The forms are available for the Kosciusko County Clerk's Office in the Kosciusko County Justice Building.
