The Leesburg Police Department has officially hired a new police officer, during Monday’s Town Council meeting Leesburg resident Bron Bolton was hired to fill a vacant position.

Bolton is a 2007 graduate of Sand Rock High School and served 6 years as a military police officer in addition to serving time as a corrections officer with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Department and Hayes State Prison in Chattooga County, Georgia.

Bolton also attended both Snead State and Gadsden State Community College where he studied Criminal Justice.

Bolton will be on a six month probationary period.

In other business, Leesburg Mayor Brandy Pierce said that the town is looking into making some repairs to a bridge on Evans Road, at this time the council will be requesting a certified inspection of that bridge before any further work is approved.

At the recommendation of Fire Chief Joe Sonaty, the council approved the purchase of new self contained breathing apparatuses for the fire department – the total cost will be $65,863 the fire department will be paying $35,863 down and the rest will be financed.

The council also voted to commit $5,000 toward a one day tournament Crappie USA Tournament in 2017. A motion was also approved for the purchase of new bookshelves and cabinets for the front offices at town hall in the amount of $1,800 and also approved the purchase of a five foot commercial fence at the Park Street Ballpark in the amount of $3,370.

In closing, Mayor Pierce said that the town is working on closing out the sewer grant project and said that those who still have concerns should contact town hall.