Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
LEESBURG — Sue Charlton was presented with the Distinguished Hoosier Award at the Leesburg Town Council meeting Monday, July 13.
The award has been given by governors for more than 50 years to recognize outstanding Indiana residents.
The Distinguished Hoosier is meant for those who distinguish themselves by significant contributions to their communities, and whose qualities and actions endear them in the hearts and minds of Hoosiers.
A longtime Leesburg resident, Charlton received the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Woman of the Year Award in recognition of the service she has provided to Kosciusko County.
Community involvement has included serving on Kosciusko County’s Habitat for Humanity Board, organizing Leesburg’s annual Memorial Day parade and Leesburg Candelaria as well as assisting in other community activities.
Council Vice President Mitch Rader presented Charlton with the award, saying, in part, “Thank you for all you do for the town. You’re a pillar of the community.”
Charlton’s son, Craig, and her grandson, Mason, were in attendance at the meeting.
In other news, Leesburg Council is moving forward with entering into a contract with Tim Sammons, an officer with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office.
Council approved a motion at the May meeting for Sammons to act as the town designee to serve legal papers for ordinance enforcement.
The reason for this contract is that the town continues to have issues with ordinance violation fees not being made.
Attorney Nick Jacobs brought copies of the revised contract between the town and Sammons to Monday’s meeting. Motion was approved to sign the revised contract and move forward with the agreement.
In another matter, Council President Christina Archer gave an update on the CAP (Community Amenities Program) grant. Archer said she met with Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe recently and was informed that a couple of the communities that applied for the grant did not have the money for their portion of the projects.
“So in talking with Amy about this, she said they would be willing to reconsider our project,” Archer said. “So we got together and wrote up a letter of intent for this — for just sidewalks only … on Prairie Street, from where the railroad tracks are down to State Road 15.”
Archer said Roe is fairly certain this will be approved, provided the town has an estimate for the cost, a bid and some assurance that the town has the matching funds available for their share of the cost.
The town plans to move forward with this process.
In other news:
• Council approved a two-year trash pickup contract extension with WM, formerly known as Waste Management. There will be a 5% increase each year.
• Council will accept a generator maintenance warranty proposal with M&D Electrical Solutions in North Manchester in the amount of $1,400 per year.
• Nick Deeter, owner of the Old Leesburg Mill, requested that his sewer rates be reduced, as the property is no longer operating as a business. Hoplore was renting the building in the past; however, Hoplore recently moved to the former Pie Eyed Petey’s location. Council agreed to reduce the rate to a one-unit fee, backdating the reduced rate to June 1. Deeter plans to sell the building.
• Tammy Cotton, with LITE Recovery, attended the meeting to inform council that she met with Matt Sandy, director of Kosciusko Area Plan Commission, and filed paperwork to move forward with renting a property in Leesburg to be used as a home for women in transition as part of their Supportive Housing Program. Cotton said the hearing with APC will not be held until next month.
Cotton brought letters of reference from landlords LITE currently rents from as well as copies of LITE’s housing agreement so that council members can see what the guidelines are for residents of the home.
• Council set a date for their budget workshop for 4 p.m. July 22.
Leesburg Town Council meetings can be viewed online at https://www.youtube.com/@LeesburgIndiana46538
Information about town ordinances can be found online at https://www.leesburgindiana.com/
The next regular meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10.
