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Leesburg industrial expansion put on hold; developer to petition Leesburg TIF to cover sewer, site work
Summary
Frank, a presenter on the Leesburg property project, told the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission that the planned 24,000-square-foot expansion on an 11-acre parcel in Leesburg is being put on hold because market costs and lack of Ready2 funding made the project financially unviable.
Frank, a presenter on the Leesburg property project, told the Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission that the planned 24,000-square-foot expansion on an 11-acre parcel in Leesburg is being put on hold because current market conditions and the inability to secure additional Ready2 program funding would make the project too expensive for prospective tenants. "We're putting that project on hold," Frank said.
The developer described work already completed at the site — sewer grinder pump installations (referred to in the meeting as "e1" systems), stormwater controls, paving improvements, and some beautification — and requested guidance on petitioning the Leesburg TIF to reimburse those infrastructure costs. Frank said prior e1 installations on the site averaged about $25,000 and that the planned hookup for Building 2 could be closer to $30,000–$35,000 because it requires cutting concrete and asphalt. He said invoices would be itemized in a formal petition.
Frank explained the town of Leesburg would own and maintain the sewer infrastructure after installation and that the developer currently pays monthly sewer bills for the installed e1 units. He said Owens Fresh Meat Market paid for its sewer improvements and that, if the petition is successful, reimbursement would be passed back to Owens to offset those costs.
Commission members expressed conceptual support for the developer preparing a formal petition with detailed invoices and building sizes. The commission discussed coordinating with the Leesburg town manager, Mike Sierfoss, and county staff to confirm which items would be eligible for TIF reimbursement. No formal vote was taken on the petition; the commission asked the developer to return with a documented request for staff review.
The developer also noted other site tenants (Showpiece Painting, JSC RV Repair) and that CarTech had relocated off-site; he said retaining local tenants contributes to jobs "in the mid-twenties" and helps local commerce. The chair and other commissioners emphasized the need for a complete accounting and coordination with county auditors to ensure any reimbursement conforms with TIF rules.
The discussion also touched on traffic and access concerns at the SR 15 intersection near the site; commissioners noted prior NDOT traffic studies and speed-limit adjustments in response to local concerns.
The commission gave direction for the developer to prepare a formal petition packet with costs, invoices and building sizes to be evaluated against Leesburg TIF eligibility rules.
