Leesburg’s focus on road safety continues to pay off.

At the April 2 Leesburg Town Council meeting, Assistant Police Chief Lanny Ransum gave the department’s quarterly report, which included only five traffic accidents.

“We’ve been in a traffic safety program since 1999, and it’s been a big asset for us,” said Ransum. “Traffic accidents are way down from what they’ve been in the past.”

The quarterly report also included 14 arrests for theft, two for burglary, two for D.U.I. and eight unspeci-fied. There were 14 felony arrests.

The department also responded to 28 calls for thefts, six for domestic violence, two for burglary and one unspecified. Recovered merchandise was valued at $38, 350.

In traffic activity, the department issued 12 citations for speeding, five for no seatbelt, five for insurance violation, four for driver license violation, three for suspended or revoked license and 14 unspecified.

The department also issued 48 warnings for speeding, 10 for insurance violation, three for driver license violation, one for no seatbelt and 54 unspecified.

Ransum informed the council that Police Chief Terrell Ransum will undergo surgery in the near future and would not be expected back on the job until the late summer or early fall of this year.

In a related matter, the council approved eight hours per week of overtime for Lanny Ransum and police officer Sam Decker.

Mayor Ed Mackey announced that the town recently had purchased a $21,000 police vehicle. Mackey said that the vehicle requires additional outfitting at a cost of ap-proximately $2,000. The council subsequently approved the outfitting cost as well as $350 for striping work on each of the town’s police cars.

In other business, the council reviewed and accepted the town’s audit for 2006. Mackey said that the council earlier discussed the idea of retaining a town attorney, but ultimately decided that the move was not economically feasible for a municipality the size of Leesburg.

The council also agreed to renew its contract with the local chapter of the American Red Cross, which operates a cancer-screening booth at the annual Leesburg Day.

Before adjournment, Mackey noted that town revenues had increased over the past few months. Mackey expected that the upcoming fishing season would further increase the town coffers