Leesburg Current Newsletter (July - September 2021)
Office of the City Manager July - Sept 2021
Hurricane Season is Here – Is Your Family Ready?
Hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30 each year. To ensure you are ready in the event a tropical system affects our community, make sure your family has a disaster plan. Information on developing an emergency plan for both sheltering in place and evacuating is available on many websites. Resources include the Florida Division of Emergency Management (www.floridadisaster.org) and Lake County’s Office of Emergency Management (www.lakecountyfl.gov/emergency).
Should our City be directly impacted by a storm, information will be available through the Lake County Emergency Management site as well as the City’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CityofLeesburgFlorida) and website (www.LeesburgFlorida.gov). Updates will also be provided by Lake County at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyFLEmergencyManagement and www.twitter.com/lakeemergency. You can also go to www.alertlake.com to sign up for emergency notifications.
Water Meter Tips
Providing the best water service begins with safe access to your meter. Leaks, burst pipes and other water emergencies can become disastrous when a meter box is not accessible. A clearly visible meter shortens the time needed for our technicians to act, especially for residents who aren’t home.
Please take the following steps to ensure the Meter Readers have safe access to your meter:
- Locate your meter
- A direct path to your meter is needed that’s free of obstructions such as overgrown grass, bushes, garden boxes or other structures.
- Make sure your pets are secured and cannot get loose. Keeping pets safely inside protects them and our Meter Readers.
- If your meter is located within a locked area of your yard, contact us at 352-728-9800 to learn about providing access while maintaining security for your property. By law, meter boxes must be accessible at all times.
Most water meters are located in the front yard, near the street or sidewalk, in a box. Remove the box lid and flip up the meter cap to expose the meter face. If it has been awhile, the meter may be under a good amount of dirt.
Most meter faces have a flow indicator (small, red or black in color, triangular or snowflake in shape). If there is no water being used, the flow indicator should be totally still. If the flow indicator is turning, then water is being used in the home or on the property.
Mote-Morris House Reopens
The City Commission celebrated the reopening of the Mote-Morris House with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 10th. One of only a few original remaining residences in Leesburg, Mote-Morris suffered severe fire damage in February, 2018.
With its Victorian architecture, two-story bays and four-story turret, this home has had only minor modifications in its 129 years. However, the fire caused a considerable amount of structural and cosmetic damage to the building. With the assistance of KMF Architects and Evergreen Construction, the City of Leesburg has restored the Mote-Morris House back to its original charm.
The house, built in 1892, was home to three families before ownership was turned over to the City. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
In August of 1988, the Morrison United Methodist Church purchased the house and offered it to whoever would move it. Residents of Leesburg came together and raised $95,000.00 for a new site. On September 1, 1990, the Mote-Morris House was moved from Main Street to its current location on Magnolia Street. More than 400 people turned out to watch as the 150-ton house was transported one block south and two blocks west.
Check out the Leesburg Public Library
Children & Teens Summer Library Program: July - August 2
The daily virtual adventure with Pageturner Animal Adventures online is available to all kids ages 0-18. Check the library Facebook page every day at 9:00am for the day’s craft, field trip, author visit and more.
There are a variety of interactive fun filled events, 5 days a week. Programs include: Video Gaming programs featuring Switch and PS4, Story Time Online, Family Crafters Online videos with take and make kits, Teen Toad videos with take home kits, virtual escape rooms and more. Programs are always free. Giveaways, prize drawings and brag tags will be awarded.
Adult Summer Library Program: July - August
Adults – you too can have a fun learning or escape experience this summer! Participate virtually from anywhere at your convenience. Simply go to LeesburgFlorida.gov/library and select the option for the 2021 Summer Library for a digital magazine filled with links to Florida themed reading recommendations (from beach fiction to serious Florida history), recipe challenges, museum tours and much more.
Tech Summer School for Adults: August
Learn a new technology skill or brush up on your computer skills each Wednesday in August. Attend live virtual class at 10:00am via Zoom. Registration is required. Call 352-728-9790 option 3.
August 4th – Excel Milestone/Timeline Charts 101
August 11th – Gmail Inbox 101
August 18th – Senior Friendly Ways to Customize Windows
August 25th – Create a PowerPoint Photo Album
September
September is Library Card Sign Up Month. A Leesburg library card gives you free access to over 150,000 books and materials in the library, more than 500,000 digital books, over 275,000 digital albums, DVD’s, videos and more. Receive your library card on your first visit. Just bring proof of identity and address, it’s easy. Families are encouraged as there is no age minimum for your child’s first library card.
Florida History Speaker Series 2021 (Live online and capacity controlled in-person at the library within guidelines at time of program, subject to change). Registration is required.
Thursday, September 2nd, 1:00pm – Tom Wilcox Presents “The Lost Towns of Central Florida”
Thursday, September 16th, 1:00pm – Lu Vickers Presents “Cypress Gardens; America’s Tropical Wonderland”
To receive a weekly email that provides information on upcoming programs and other library information please email us at librarian@leesburgflorida.gov and for more information visit us online at LeesburgFlorida.gov/Library.
Recreation Department News
The Leesburg Recreation Department is offering a variety of activities for all ages this summer and fall. Registration is required for sports and events.
SOCCER:
Start Smart (ages 3-5) Registration: Aug. 2nd – Sept. 3rd
Pee Wee (ages 5-6) Registration opens: June
Junior (ages 7-8) Registration opens: June
Senior (ages 9-10) Registration opens: June
Premier (ages 11-12) Registration opens: June
World Cup (ages 13-14) Registration opens: June
POP WARNER PROGRAMS:
Football (ages 5-14)
Returning Player Registration:
February – July
New Player Registration:
April – July
Cheerleading (Ages 5-15)
Registration: February – July
BASKETBALL:
Bitty Ball (ages 5-6) Registration: September – October
Adult (ages 18+) Registration: August – October
POOL and SPLASH PAD
HO Dabney Pool Hours:
May 29th – August 9th: Open Daily 11am – 5pm
Lap Swim (limited lanes) Weekdays 11am – 1pm
Splash Pad Hours
May 29th – August 8th: Open Daily 10am – 6pm
August 14th – October 3rd: Weekends Only 12pm – 5pm
**Check our website or call for information on Swim Lesson Sessions and special Splash Pad activities
For additional information (including fees and locations) on these and other programs, please visit the Recreation Department website at www.LeesburgFlorida.gov/recreation or call 352-728-9885.
CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS
City Commission meetings take place at 5:30pm on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month (except for December). Meetings are currently held at the Venetian Center, at 1 Dozier Court in Leesburg.
Upcoming regular meetings include July 12th & 26th and August 9th & 23rd. Budget workshops are set for July 6th, 8th & 13th. Regular meetings along with special meetings and workshops are posted on the calendar on the City website at LeesburgFlorida.gov/calendar.php
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