LEESBURG – A meeting of the Leesburg Town Council that was originally allotted just over 20 minutes ran to almost an hour last Tuesday, as residents and others showed up to complain about how the town is conducting business on multiple fronts.

After Mayor Edward Mackey and the council members discussed preparations for Saturday's 21st annual Leesburg Day and briefly mentioned plans for a budget workshop, area resident Tim Johnson was allotted three minutes to address concerns he has over the use of herbicides on nearby nature trails.

"I'm really going to need more time than that to get all my questions answered," Johnson said before beginning.

Johnson then showed Mackey and the council members photos of what he said a nature trail should like, along with photos of the nature trail Leesburg maintains near the Leesburg Landing boat launch just south of town.

"We've got a park that is funded by taxpayer dollars, and the mayor wanted to know why I was 'meddling,'" Johnson said to the council members. "I'm not meddling and I'm not here to attack anybody. I'm just here to find out why we're using these herbicides."

Johnson suggested that the town would be better served by presenting its tourism-producing areas as beautiful, instead of a patchwork of unkempt weeds and brown, withering vegetation.

"That's ugly for anybody that comes into town," Johnson said, referring to one of the dozens of photos he presented to the council members. "That's just ugly."

Mackey promised to meet with Johnson at a later date to discuss the situation. Council member Tony Chandler, who serves on the parks and recreation committee, said he would also attend the meeting.

According to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department, a Leesburg resident angry over the town's use of herbicide on his property led to an altercation with Mackey the following morning. Deputies were still investigating at press time.

After Johnson finished, town attorney Al Shumaker took several minutes to explain details of the installation of a sewage system in the Embo's Island area. He cited the town's desire to prevent contamination of Weiss Lake and increase property values as reasons for residents to tie onto the system.

Resident Jerry Johns was then allowed to speak in opposition.

Mackey warned Johns before he began that, like Johnson, his remarks would be limited to three minutes. But it quickly became apparent that over a dozen residents in attendance were determined to have their say regarding the sewage system.

"This thing is not going to work," Johns said. "It's just not going to do it. For what you're charging us, it's just not fair."

The meeting was interrupted several times by members of the audience voicing their agreement with Johns.