From left, Leesburg town attorney Vern Landis, Town Council President Doug Jones and council member Tom Moore. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

LEESBURG —  Town Council members continued discussion about the K21 Health Foundation pledge at their monthly meeting held Monday, March 9.

Nine towns in the county, including Leesburg, have the opportunity to receive up to $200,000 for projects that focus on health and wellness opportunities in their community. 

Rich Haddad, K21 Health Foundation president and CEO, attended the February town council meeting to provide information about the pledge.

Town council member Tom Moore, who was not present at last month’s meeting, asked Council President Doug Jones and Vice-President Christina Archer for clarity on who defines ‘health and wellness.’ 

“I think it’s a pretty broad spectrum,” Jones said. “We talked about the sidewalks because we do have a lot of walkers in town and we have some sidewalks that are really in bad shape. So that’s one of the things we talked about doing.”

“From what I understand it can also include things related to childcare,” Archer said. “And we certainly know there’s a big need for that in the community.”

Leesburg council member Tom Moore

“We don’t have any buildings for that,” Moore pointed out.

Archer said that while that statement is accurate, “there are monies available that might work with that outside of this $200,000 grant – it’s something to think about.”

Bill Crane, Warsaw, suggested the possibility of contacting Fort Wayne neurosurgeon and wellness expert Dr. Rudy Kachmann about a seminar related to a healthy lifestyle. Crane, whose wife works with Dr. Kachmann, said this could include bio scanning. Council members thanked Crane for attending the meeting and said they would take his suggestion into consideration.

Archer reminded Jones and Moore that there is not a time limit on the pledge money, which allows them to take their time with the planning and not rush into a decision. She added that town-wide planning is necessary in order to get input from Leesburg residents.

Moore pointed out that residents may want bike paths and parks.

“We need input from the folks that live here,” Moore agreed. “But there are quite a few limitations and one of those is available land and buildings.”

“We’re going to have to get it into the scope that we can work with,” Jones concurred. 

Moore suggested asking for volunteers from the community to attend a specified meeting, not necessarily a town council meeting, in order to bring ideas. 

Town officials are also wondering what role the Kosciusko County Community Foundation might have.

“Mike (Clerk-Treasurer Searfoss) and I talked with Suzie Light and Stephanie Overbey and we’re kind of waiting for them to get back with us at this point because they said they would be talking to us more about planning in April,” Archer said. “So I think that’s probably the time frame we’d be looking at to have a meeting of some kind.”

A decision was made to add K21 pledge to next month’s agenda and discuss the matter further at the time. 

A monthly report was presented by Leesburg Street Commissioner Craig Charlton, who told council members he found numerous cracks and stress fractures in the framework of the plow. Charlton recommended replacing the plow prior to next winter.

Charlton told council members he hopes to have quotes for the Van Buren Street curb project at the April meeting. 

Dates were determined for Leesburg community garage sale and cleanup days for 2020. Garage sale days will be June 12  & 13. Town cleanup days will be June 26 and 27.

In other news and reminders: 

• No parking on any street in Leesburg between 3-5 a.m. 
• No burning in the town of Leesburg.
• Speed limit in Leesburg is 25 mph on all streets. 
• Town Council asks all residents to please be mindful of what you flush.
• Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons, Inc., Warsaw, provided a sanitary sewer report.
• The next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. April 13.