SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) – Taxpayers in the town of Speedway will see an increase to their monthly wastewater bills.
The Speedway Town Council on Monday night unanimously passed the rate-increase ordinance after a public hearing. The increase will help finance a state-mandated wastewater plant expansion expected to cost from $15 million to $18 million. News 8 first reported in February on the proposal.
The councilors said the average household uses up to 4,400 gallons per month, and its increase is estimated to be $11.14 per month. But, the cost could increase or decrease depending on water use.
Retired resident Terri Combs has lived in Speedway for 14 years. She doesn’t know how to make this additional cost work. “What’s the point of us all coming in here if they don’t listen to us or talk to us about it. You’ve got your lights going up, your gas going up, your sewer going up. Everything is going up except for my Social Security.”
Jordan Monschein, a Speedway resident of more than 30 years, said, “The businesses should be taking this cost instead of the residents. There’s a lot of tax incentives. A lot of TIF (tax-increment financing) funds that could be used, and putting it on the residents is not the best idea.”
Other critics at the meeting said the Indianapolis 500, events like it, and commercial large businesses are the ones dumping more wastewater, and they should be responsible for paying more if not all of the rate increase.
Republican Councilor Nick Sturgeon said it was a tough decision. “Businesses are going to be paying a much larger fee ultimately because they are going to be using more water than the residents. It’s a user fee, and you pay for what you use, just like if you were living in Indianapolis or another community.”
Sturgeon was unclear when customers will begin paying new rates and if the cost will remain fixed for several years.
According to the city council, no state grants were available for the project, and the town must abide to state regulations, including a 10-year, 1-hour storm event without a sewer overflow and treatment for a year.
The Town Council said the expansion includes these items:
- Construction of a new combined sewer tank.
- A separate wet-weather treatment facility.
- Replacement and modernization of ultraviolet-disinfection equipment.
- Associated upgrades to ensure operational compliance.
The Marion County town of Speedway has an estimated 14,200 residents.
