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

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG — The Town of Leesburg will officially cut ties with USIC Locating Services.

At the Leesburg Town Council meeting held Monday, Oct. 14, Councilman Tom Moore announced that a letter will be sent through Attorney Nick Jacobs informing USIC that the town is terminating their contract.

Issues with USIC were discussed at the town council meeting in April when Moore informed council that USIC failed to mark utilities at a property on Old State Road 15. 

In July 2018, Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons, Inc., told council members that two sewer lines and power lines were cut accidentally due to not being properly located and marked. There were additional incidents with electric lines, despite council members reaching out to USIC in an attempt to address the problem.

“Based upon their performance over the past few years, I’m making a motion that we cancel our contract with USIC,” Moore said. “There’s just no reason to continue this very frustrating arrangement with USIC.”

The motion was approved.

Moore said property owners in town will still be required to dial 811 before doing any digging on their properties. However, rather than 811 contacting USIC to mark Leesburg sewer lines as they have done in the past, they will call the Leesburg Town office and the town will mark their own.

In another matter, Council President Mitch Rader said Leesburg Council meetings will need to be recorded starting in July of next year. 

In 2023, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed into law HEA 1167, which requires all government meetings in Indiana to be live-streamed or recorded for the purpose of increasing transparency among local governments.

The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to school boards, state agencies, cities, towns, townships, counties and any governing body that conducts regular meetings in the same meeting room.

Regarding the Street Department monthly report, Street Commissioner Craig Charlton said complaints continue regarding a barking dog on East Prairie Street. Warnings have been issued as well as a $25 fine. As there has been no response from the owner and the issue has not been resolved, the town will take the next step of issuing a larger fine.

In November 2023, council made the decision that there should be one “blanket” policy for all ordinance violations, with fines set at $25 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense and $200 for the third offense.

In other news:

• Leesburg Trick or Treat hours will be 5:30-7 p.m. on Oct. 31.
• The 2025 Budget Ordinance was approved. Total budget amount is $300,164, with $$4,468 in the Rainy Day Fund, $146,650 in the General Fund, $15,000 in the Local Income Tax Fund, $8,000 in the Local Roads and Streets Fund, $123,046 in the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund, and $3,000 in the Cumulative Capital Fund. 
• The monthly sanitary sewer report was provided by Derek Tenney of Tenney & Sons.
• Reminders: No parking on any street between 3-5 a.m. daily; no burning in town; be mindful of what you flush.
• The next meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11.