LEESBURG – Leesburg Town Councilman Doug Jones said Monday the town is moving forward in resolving police patrolling for traffic control for the town.
During September’s meeting, Jones said there was an insurance issue that had to be worked out in regards to the contract for Claypool Police Department to patrol in Leesburg. At October’s meeting, Jones said he talked to Claypool Council President Benny Stage and he thought he and Stage were able to find a way of getting around the insurance issue and were in the process of talking with the insurance companies.
Monday, Jones said he heard back from both insurance companies involved. One company does not offer the coverage Leesburg needs, while the other company is not willing to provide the coverage.
Jones said there are outside third-party insurance coverage companies Leesburg can contact that can write a policy to cover a part-time reserve deputy. He thinks that’s the way to go. Jones said he will be in contact with third-party providers to see if the town can get a policy and what it costs.
“It would have been nice to know this five months ago, but we did move forward in this,” Jones said.
In other business, the Board discussed the possibility of having a fine associated with violating the town’s sewer ordinance. Board President Tom Moore said the topic will be on the agenda for December’s meeting as well.
Violating Leesburg’s ordinance can result in a penalty for flushing things like wipes or various other things the sewer system cannot take, Moore said. Currently, there isn’t a fine system in the ordinance for violations. Moore suggested the Board think about implementing a fine system for residents flushing things they shouldn’t.
Moore said some of the people in town who violate the ordinance are repeat offenders. “And we may have to get their attention,” he said.
Jones said one thing to think about was some people share sewer pumps with other households. Moore said that’s true. There are numerous households in Leesburg that share pumps.
The topic is also going to play into the sewer rate review, Moore said.
Jones said it comes down to how you punish someone who may or may not be a factor in the problem due to shared pumps. If you have an individual that knows better than to flush down baby wipes, should they be fined because their neighbor is flushing down 10 or 15 a day?
Moore said when the sewer rate has to go up, rates of households where one person lives goes up, too.
Councilwoman Christina Archer said the town has tried very hard not to raise the sewer rate.
Jones said if it’s someone’s first offense and that person honestly didn’t know they couldn’t flush things like baby wipes, then he said he could have some sympathy for those people. But when the town goes back to the same house over and over again, it gets expensive since the pumps are about $2,400 each.
Archer said the majority of people are following the sewer ordinance.
Jones said when people put that sort of stuff down the drain, they don’t realize how much damage they’re doing. It costs everyone money, including themselves.
No decision was made Monday but the Council also discussed a sewer rate review. Moore asked the Board for their thoughts on doing a rate review.
Jones said the town is required to do a review. It has been a while since the town has conducted a review of its sewer rate and they’re probably past the required due date.
Moore said he thinks the town has had one or two reviews since the sewer system has been up and running and thought it was time to do another one.
Jones said the review was an expensive process for the town. He thought it was thousands of dollars to have it done. Someone independent has to come in and review the books.
Jones said he owns property in other towns and to maintain the same rate for the past 11 years is unheard of. In one of the towns he owns property in, he’s seen seven or eight rate increases in the past 20 years.
“We’re probably heading in that direction. I hope we’re not, but you never know,” Jones said.
Town attorney Vern Landis said he would call Baker Tilly in regards to possibly doing the review.
In other business, the Board discussed how to spend money they received from the American Rescue Plan.
Moore asked if there were any restrictions in how the town could use the money. Clerk-Treasurer Mike Searfoss said there are a few restrictions because it came via the federal government.
Leesburg was approved $124,626 to be given in two separate deposits to be dispersed between now and 2024, Searfoss said.
Moore said the town has gotten its first deposit. He said there are a lot of things the money can be used for.
Jones said he thought the money should be put toward the town’s infrastructure projects, such as the town’s curbs and gutters, the sealing of some of the streets in town and put some in the sewage department.
Moore said he didn’t disagree. He thought the Board should have an open discussion of what to do with the town.
In other business, the Board:
• Learned from Archer everything has been turned in for its K21 project. The only holdup at this point is K21 reviews the project four times a year. Their last review date was Nov. 1 and she hasn’t heard back yet.
• Approved a 4% salary increase ordinance for town employees other than elected officials.
