From left, Leesburg Town Attorney Nick Jacobs, Councilman Mitch Rader and Council Vice President Tom Moore. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG — At the Leesburg Town Council meeting Monday, July 10, Street Commissioner Craig Charlton said several ordinance warnings were issued in the past month for mowing grass into the street and for grass and weeds exceeding 12 inches in height. 

Ordinance 92.01 states, “Any weeds, such as jimsonweed, burdock, ragweed, thistle, cocklebur or other weeds of a like or similar kind, found growing in any lot or tract of land in the town are hereby declared to be a nuisance. It shall be unlawful to permit any such weeds to grow or remain in any such place.”

Ordinance 92.02 states, “(A) It shall be unlawful for anyone to permit any weeds, grass or plants, other than trees, bushes, flowers or other ornamental plants, to grow to a height exceeding 12 inches anywhere in the town.

(B)  Any such plants or weeds exceeding such height are hereby declared to be a nuisance.”

Council members discussed enforcement of ordinance violations.

Council Vice President Tom Moore said the town now has printed data for the updated wording related to ordinances and violations. 

“When ordinance violations are issued, they will be issued with the new verbiage. and to the people receiving them, they need to understand that we will follow through,” Moore said. “It may take several months, but we will follow through. With that said, I suspect – and I don’t know this for a fact, but I suspect that a great percentage of these refuse violations will be on rental properties, so this is almost notice to the property owner because you’re the one we’ll be coming after, not the renter, so forewarned is forearmed.”

Council President Christina Archer suggested that council go through the ordinance penalties and fines to make sure they are consistent and that all ordinance violations fall under the same penalty clause.

“It would simplify things greatly,” Charlton said.

Attorney Nick Jacobs said this would be acceptable.

Archer plans to work on this prior to the next council meeting. 

In another matter, related to the “pungent odor” coming from the main lift station, Moore told the council he spoke recently with an acquaintance whose business is working on municipal wastewater systems. 

“In casual conversation, I asked him if he had ever had any problems with sulfur dioxide odors coming from any pumping station that has an aeration system in it,” Moore said, with the other person responding in the affirmative. 

Moore was told the solution is to build a type of box with a bed, similar to a leach bed, using 2×4’s to frame it. Moore suggested a size of 8 feet by 8 feet with four pieces of 4-inch perforated leach bed pipe, which would then be covered with mulch. An inline fan off of the main pumping station is then used to blow the odor into the box. 

Derek Tenny of Tenney & Sons Inc. agreed to trying out this suggestion, with Moore offering to assist in the process. 

In other news:

• Town officials would like to remind residents of the following: no parking on any street between 3-5 a.m. (every day); no burning anything, any time; and please be mindful of what you flush.
• Leesburg Street Department cell number is 574-527-2884.
• A complete list of town ordinances may be viewed on the Town of Leesburg website at www.leesburgindiana.com/information 
• The next regular meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14.