LEESBURG — During the Leesburg Town Council meeting, held Monday, Sept. 14, councilmen discussed the status of the potential railroad quiet zone as well as the updating of the town website.

Though the quiet zone for the railroad was a hopeful project, according to Council President Tom Moore, efforts have been abandoned at this time. Moore explained he had hoped to give some reprieve to homes located near the train that are affected by loud whistles throughout the evening.

However, after investigating the matter, he discovered due to the fact federal law requires the whistle to be sounded as a train nears a crossing, the town’s ordinance, though possible, would leave the town assuming liability. Moore noted the town would have to take out an insurance policy and name the railroad the beneficiary. This would leave the town assuming a great deal of both liability and cost.

In addition, the railroad crossings would still have to sound a horn during oncoming train traffic, rendering the effort all but useless to the town, who attempted the project purely out of nighttime noise control for residents.

Vice-president Doug Jones approached the council to discuss the town website, which he currently maintains free-of-charge for the town. Jones noted though he has been able to keep the website operation over the past six years, his lack up-to-date web software is limiting his ability to work with the site at this time.

Jones requested the town adopt domain and web hosting that would allow for him to continue to run the site and make updates for visitors. Moore noted the site will be especially useful for residents to look up town codes and ordinances and supported furthering the use. Jones noted the cost of the domain host will be $20, which will insure the website’s URL remains the same. An additional $111 will allow for web hosting that will make the site easier to adjust and adapt to the town’s needs.

Councilmen approved the purchase of a new web host and web domain.

In other news, the council also discussed potential changes to the street department compensation model for director Brandon Queen. According to Moore, the town may now be required to make the street department director position an hourly position instead of a salaried position. Because the position does not meet the guidelines for a salaried position, Queen will be required to be compensated an hourly wage with overtime should he accrue it.

Moore noted in the past, overtime has been transferred into comp time for the position. However, due to U.S. Department of Labor changes, a better grasp on hours worked by the position is now necessary. Queen agreed to track his hours worked for the council and the council is also considering the adoption of a time clock for the position. A final decision will be addressed in the October meeting.

Other business:

• The town reminds residents there is to be no burning of anything at anytime in town limits.
• No parking is permitted on any city street between the hours of 3-5 a.m.
• A violation was reported on 113 E. Vanburen Street where a pan has been parked without plates or moving for some time. The owner is given 15 days to bring the vehicle to compliance or it will be removed by the town.
• An unnamed town business is also in violation, with 7-9 out-of-date vehicles without proper plates or any signs of use. Queen noted the business is required to either remove the vehicles or have a fence placed around the property.
• Leaf pick-up is expected to begin in the near future, however, Moore noted Mother Nature will decide the exact date this begins.