Carol Watson

The meeting addressed several administrative and operational matters. Agenda changes included adding the director's oath documents for review. The Board approved the minutes for both the annual and monthly meetings held in January. A significant portion of the discussion focused on legislative outreach following a visit to Indiana rural water day, specifically aiming to secure conservancies' inclusion in government funding in next year's legislation, potentially attached to a stormwater bill. Customer service reports for January detailed 21 reports, including shut-off requests, usage issues, and water quality concerns; all but one report was closed, with the open item related to a lead issue potentially caused by confusion over state-issued mandatory mailings. Operational updates included confirming that a sanitary survey inspection yielded excellent preliminary results, with minor items scheduled for follow-up. Financial matters involved reviewing registers, including a utility escrow transfer of $93,995.02 for January, and discussions regarding establishing an interest-bearing escrow account at Horizon to manage developer loan payments more efficiently for accounting purposes. Other updates covered scheduling future facility upgrades, confirming the completion of work on wellhouse steel doors and hardware, and discussing the need for assistance regarding the mandated Lead and Copper Rule compliance costs.

The work session focused primarily on two items: finalizing the agreement for grant money for road work from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to cover road improvements in Battleground, amounting to approximately $135,000 of a total $168,000 project cost; and determining the specifications and budget for 250th anniversary banners. Regarding the banners, the council debated design options, favoring simpler designs with clear lettering, and ultimately approved a budget up to $3,000 to procure a mix of custom 250th anniversary banners and generic red, white, and blue "Welcome to Battleground" banners for future use. Other brief discussions included the addition of an agenda item regarding office chairs and a mention of utility bill minimums.

The meeting commenced with the opening of a sealed bid for road projects utilizing Community Crossings Grants funding, specifically for surface rejuvenating on 600 North and Railroad Street, and a cape seal process on other specified roads. The sole bid received was from Pavement Solutions Incorporated for $168,892.35, which was subsequently accepted by motion. The council then proceeded with the appointment of a new council member following previous interviews, resulting in the nomination and successful voice vote confirmation of Erin Mun, who was then sworn into office. Following this, the final version of the Utility Service Agreement with the Woods Edge Company was discussed, outlining terms for utility service payments in three phases to avoid increasing rates for general ratepayers, and this agreement was approved. Finally, updates were provided regarding litigation concerning JW Street 102, noting that a lawsuit was filed due to outstanding taxes, and a discussion occurred regarding the state of structure 504 JWT where utilities were shut off and the owner transferred interest amidst disputes over stormwater utility charges.

The Annual Meeting covered the financial review, noting stable revenue streams primarily financed by water fees and property taxes which cover approximately 21-22% of costs, including infrastructure and tower loan payments. Major projects for 2025 include preparations for a booster station/building total upgrade, warehouse improvements, and staffing adjustments, including hiring a licensed superintendent. Significant operational updates included the replacement of 10% of meters, with newer meters featuring better technology and radio read capabilities for efficiency. Security camera installation around water buildings and upgrading SCADA communication were also completed projects. Discussions also focused on mandated compliance regarding the inspection and abatement of lead and copper connections in the older sections of the system, which will require physical inspection and potential street digging. Election results were confirmed, seating two directors, and new leadership for the coming year was established, naming the Chair and Vice Chairman. Staff positions were also confirmed, including the Superintendent, Financial Clerk, and Clerk.

The special meeting convened to discuss putting the town in a position to make a firm offer regarding a utility service agreement, focusing on funding a new treatment plant based on usage percentages. Key financial points included securing $640,000 for Phase One and debating contributions for Phases Two and Three. Detailed discussion covered the percentage breakdown of flow rates attributing to the entity across the three phases (e.g., Phase One at 100%, Phase Two at 60% projected buildout, Phase Three at 40% projected buildout). A specific payment structure was proposed where the entity would pay 100% for Phase One and 100% for Phase Two costs, significantly reducing the Phase Three contribution to 4.95% to avoid immediate rate increases for other ratepayers. The meeting included a discussion on cost recovery mechanisms, where future development fees per acre in Phase Two service areas could partially repay the upfront contribution over a 10-year sunset period, potentially repaying up to $2 million in Phase Two.