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LEESBURG - The Leesburg Town Council met Monday for its regular monthly meeting.
Marking proposed placement of grinder pumps on homeowners' properties has started. Joe Tierney, GRW Engineers, said, "We've taken the first shot at placement. We fully expect questions about specific locations and will work with property owners to answer questions and see if we can adjust the locations."
The grinder pumps will take up very little space on the properties, and pumps will be shared wherever possible. Lawn impacts will include only a small round green lid about 6 inches above ground with a 4-inch by 4-inch post containing the control panel for the pump, which will contain an alarm that will go off when the pump is not working and a tag containing contact information.
During initial installation, a small hole will be dug for installation of the pump and other digging will occur as required for connection to the sewer line. Once installation is completed, the areas that were dug up will be filled in and seeded. Although the grinder pumps can't be covered with soil or grass, they can be concealed by landscaping.
The next areas discussed were various official notifications that must be provided to all property owners. Signed easement agreements by all affected homeowners must be gathered. Vern Landis, town attorney, will prepare the easement documents. With the easements, ownership is not transferred, but permission is granted for the construction phase and to come onto the grounds for maintenance. Little impact to property owners is anticipated after initial construction.
Bob Murphy, a grant writer with R.P. Murphy and Associates, provided a copy of the government-required brochure "When a Public Agency Acquires Your Property." Residents must sign a document stating they received this information in addition to signed easement agreements before a grant application for up to $500,000 can be submitted for a block grant to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. This grant, which reduces individual bills by approximately $5 per month, already has been included in the calculations of estimated monthly sewer charges.
Specific plans need to be made for how to distribute required documents and how to collect signed receipt forms and easements that require notarization of signature.
Tierney said, "We need to nail down the pump station location and associated land acquisition." He also provided a sample question-and-answer document to be provided to property owners to answer frequently asked questions and concerns. Separate Q&A documents will be provided to property owners along Ind. 15 and in Leesburg.
NIPSCO and Sprint have started relocating their lines on the properties. The locations are marked with flags that should be left in or replaced after moving to avoid problems during digging to install grinder pumps and sewer lines.
In other business:
• Carolyn Beatty, town clerk-treasurer, announced she will resign effective with the June meeting. Her replacement will be Melissa Robinson.
• A letter about parking on the streets was discussed.
• The community garage sale will be June 17.
The next meeting will be June 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Representing Leesburg were: Beatty, clerk/treasurer; board members Ryan Robinson, Rick Stookey and Jay Weaver; Landis, attorney; and Ed Riordan, street commissioner.
