From left, Leesburg Councilman Tom Moore, Council President Mitch Rader, Council Vice President Christina Archer. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG — High speed fiber optic internet services from Kosciusko Connect will soon be available to Leesburg residents and businesses.

KREMC Vice President of Technology & Broadband Curt Barkey and KREMC Manager of Broadband Operations Rich Cinninger attended the Leesburg Town Council meeting Monday, Aug. 12, to provide information and answer questions.

Kosciusko Connect is a subsidiary of Kosciusko Rural Electric Membership Cooperative (KREMC). Kosciusko Connect provides reliable, high-speed fiber internet in Kosciusko County and neighboring communities.

Cinninger said the first phase involves collecting field data, Nipsco pole information and addresses and laying out a proposed route for the fiber optic internet. Once the first phase is complete, they will return and present their findings to the Leesburg Town Council.

Cinninger said provided there are no delays, they would like to begin construction Oct. 1.

A motion was approved by council giving permission to Kosciusko Connect to install fiber optic lines in Leesburg.

In another matter, Street Commissioner Craig Charlton said he received complaints about people sleeping in the park in Leesburg. The town does not currently have an ordinance that specifically prohibits this. Councilman Tom Moore said thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling, the town can likely implement an ordinance to address this. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities can ban people from sleeping and camping in public places. Attorney Nick Jacobs said the town would need to publish notice and hold a public meeting if they decide to move forward with this.

In other news:

• Reminders: No parking on any street between the hours of 3 a.m. – 5 a.m. This applies all seven days of the week. No burning in town. Please be mindful of what you flush. Any weeds or grass exceeding 12 inches in height are declared to be a nuisance and the property owner may be fined.
• A sanitary sewer report was provided by Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons.
• The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9.