LEESBURG - For the second time in two months, representatives from the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission spoke at the Leesburg Town Council meeting Monday night.
Board member Tom Moore told town residents at the meeting that the representatives from the plan commission were present to inform them about the functions of the commission and how it would affect the town.
"This is a service you are already paying for," Moore said. "We just aren't using it."
The plan commission was formed in 1969, and all towns in Kosciusko County are eligible to join. There is no extra charge to be a member, and about half the towns in the county participate. Currently Syracuse, Etna Green, Claypool, Milford, North Webster, Silver Lake and Pierceton are members of the plan commission.
Dan Richard and Matt Sandy were present at the meeting to explain what the plan commission is and what the entity does.
Richard explained that it is the town's decision whether to join the plan commission, and then answered questions from the people present at the meeting.
Several residents present at the meeting asked what prompted the board to ask representatives from the plan commission to speak at the meetings. Many of the residents said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Why change it now?"
"We thought this might be a way to improve the town," said council member Doug Jones. "If the town doesn't want it, then we won't do it."
Many people said they would like to see the decision about joining the plan commission put on a ballot so all town residents can have a say in the decision.
Moore told those present that he would check to see if the issue could be put on the ballot. He added that if it could be added to the ballot, he would look into the process let people know what it entails.
No decision will be made about joining the plan commission until a later date.
Later in the meeting, one resident asked if Council President Rick Stookey, who has not been at the past few meetings, had resigned. Jones and Moore said they did not know about Stookey, but they have not been told he is resigning.
In other business, the council:
n Approved a motion to sign a contract with USIC, a locating service. Currently, the town's sewer lines are not listed in the directory, and now people will be alerted of sewer lines when they call before digging.
n Heard the storm water project is moving along. Equipment is in place, and work will begin next week.
n Heard that the town's Web site, www.leesburgindiana.com, is up an running. More information is being added to the site on a regular basis. Meeting notifications, codes and e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and addresses for board members, town clerk and street commissioner also are available on the Web site.
