Leesburg City Council adopts Overlay District, continues search for police chief
Leesburg City Council discusses various matters at its Tuesday meeting
By Gypsy Crow
LEESBURG — The Depot Area Overlay District geographic expansion to two additional properties was approved for adoption by the Leesburg City Council at its meeting earlier this week.
The Overlay District allows the city to “support and enhance Downtown Leesburg as the historic Crown of the City with the historic Depot as its most sparkling jewel.” The depot now serves as the Welcome Center.
A text amendment application prepared by Rozanne Braswell, the Lee County Planning, Zoning and Engineering director, said the Depot Area Overlay District is intended to establish a gateway corridor and a Heritage Tourism District within Leesburg. The Heritage Tourism District, she said, would essentially protect and preserve downtown Leesburg.
The council also gave their blessing for Buccaneer Seafood to apply for a business permit for their food truck in Leesburg. Buccaneer Seafood currently operates in Buena Vista, Butler and Americus and provides fresh, uncooked seafood that can include, but is not limited to, shrimp, mahi-mahi, swordfish, crawfish, crab legs, salmon and more depending on the fish availability.
In other business, the 2019 budget was reviewed. The water budget is increasing by $12,323 and the sewer department is increasing by $31, 546. A line item was created for water testing and transferred to the sewage treatment plan for a $30,000 increase due to the transfer. For water and sewer, the contingency numbers are the same, $50,000 each.
For the SPLOST fund for 2019, the city is expecting $421,520 for revenue. A vehicle for the Leesburg Police Department is included at $52,000 for software the police department needs. A public works vehicle and repairs for a street sweeper at a cost of $17,000 are included with the public works line item in the budget.
The city amended the budget to move $200,000 from the water and sewer budget to the general fund.
After the meeting, a search committee was established by the city council to find a new police chief after the passing of Leesburg Police Chief Charles Moore. Maj. David Bullington is currently acting as the chief until one is selected.
Officials said the search for the suspects behind the recent Leesburg car break-ins is still ongoing, and citizens are asked to lock their car doors to ward off criminals.
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