Leesburg Town Council Continues Discussion On Sewer Rates
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Jackie Gorski-jgorski@timesuniononline.com
LEESBURG – Leesburg Town Council continued its discussion Monday on a sewer rate increase and decided to bring up the topic again when it does its 2023 budget.
Councilman Tom Moore said due to the age of the sewer system, he would like for the Council to keep track of the monthly expenses when it comes to the sewer system.
For example, he said, in the past month, the town spent $13,415.30 maintaining the system, which includes processing fees and buying parts. What got him thinking about keeping track of the expenses is there were some “rather substantial” expenses that were acquired in the sewer department that was reflected in the sewer rate review done by Baker Tilly. One example of that is $75,000 for updating the electrical system at the main pumping system. Moore said it was a one-time expense.
Moore said he is not opposed to a rate increase, but he wants to make sure the town needs one.
Councilman Doug Jones asked if the amount Moore brought up was the average amount for maintenance. Clerk-Treasurer Mike Searfoss said pretty much. Searfoss said the expenses are typically made up of service calls and other things. Moore said he would like to keep an eye on the costs.
The town is using pumps from 2009. The town in the past few months have bought new pumps and Moore said the cost to get new pumps is not going to get any less.
Moore said, between Monday and the end of the year, the Council will have a better idea of the sewer’s expenses. If the town can live with the sewer system’s finances as they are, Jones said he would like to revisit the topic at the end of the year to know how big of an issue it is.
Searfoss suggested taking a look at the issue when the Council puts together the town’s 2023 budget because it could take a couple of months to put the rate in place. That way, the Council could possibly make the rate increase effective for the first of the year, if needed.
In other business, the Council continued a discussion on possibly rewording its refuse ordinance.
Moore addressed the part of the ordinance that states: “It shall be unlawful for anyone to permit the dumping of refuse, junk of any kind, or piling of leaves, grass clippings, weeds or other similar piles of refuse.” Moore said he would like to put accumulation in place of dumping. He said words mean something.
The ordinance also gives examples of things that shouldn’t be dumped. Moore said he doesn’t think it’s necessary to list everything conceivable that could be put in someone’s yard. They should name a few things to give an idea of what the town is talking about.
Street Commissioner Craig Charlton said there’s some very good examples of what to put in someone’s yard around town. He suggested taking pictures of those examples and adding clarity to those pictures in the ordinance. Moore said since the topic “came to light,” he has noticed it more.
Jones said it’s difficult to legislate how someone takes care of their property. The town has a nuisance ordinance and said the refuse ordinance would probably be an addition to that. Jones said he thinks the Council needs to be careful of how to word the ordinance.
Jones also said he thinks the Council needs to be careful of how they legislate how people live on their own property. Moore said the Council wasn’t trying to do that. Charlton said the town has already done that. One example Charlton gave was if a car is not plated and/or roadworthy, it has to be in a building or behind a fence.
Jones asked if the ordinance was going to extend to someone who has a privacy fence. Moore said that’s the reason the Council has to be talking about the wording of the ordinance because if the refuse is visible from the street or the sidewalk, it might be an issue.
Councilwoman Christina Archer said it seemed to be a tough call between being too broad and being too specific. There should be a way to make appropriate language for the ordinance.
Moore said the topic is not going away. Archer said the Council will look at the best way to word the ordinance before moving forward on the issue.
Also, the Board:
• Heard an update about three lawsuits against residents in regards to parking violations.
During February’s meeting, town attorney Nick Jacobs said there were three individuals that were cited several times for violating the parking ordinance. Former town attorney Verne Landis sent them demand letters in November to see if it could be resolved. The three people didn’t respond so lawsuits were filed against them.
Monday, Jacobs said one of the residents paid off the entirety of what he owed the town several months ago and has been resolved.
For the other two lawsuits, collections hearings were held. One of the residents had paid part of his bill. That resident showed up to the hearing and paid off his bill in the entirety and is resolved. The other resident hasn’t paid anything in what is owed and didn’t show up to the hearing.
There is a follow-up hearing the town can do. Jacobs said there is paperwork he can file in the next couple days and that hearing should be within the next four or five weeks.
• Approved the comprehensive plan for Leesburg.
Kosciusko County Area Plan Assistant Director Matt Sandy agreed the plan was a road map and not a regulatory guide map.
The countywide comprehensive plan was approved by the Kosciusko County Commissioners in May.
