Speedway council approves wastewater oxygen supply deal, firefighter contract, salary ordinance and budget claims

Nick Sturgeon, president of the Speedway Town Council, called a special meeting April 2 and the council unanimously approved multiple agreements and budget items affecting the town’s wastewater operations, fire department pay and fiscal records.

The council approved a product supply agreement with Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. for bulk liquid oxygen used at the wastewater treatment plant, a labor contract with the Speedway Professional Firefighters Association Local 416 effective Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026, an ordinance amending 2025 job and salary schedules for fire positions, and a resolution adjusting employer pickup of mandatory member pension contributions for the Speedway Fire Department. The council also received the 2024 TIF annual report and approved claims and utility adjustments covering $3,029,907.32 in disbursements.

Why it matters: The oxygen contract and energy-efficiency buying work are intended to reduce operational costs at the wastewater plant; the firefighter agreement and related salary ordinance implement negotiated pay and benefits changes that affect town payroll and retiree contributions. Council members also flagged budget risk from property-tax uncertainty during the contract discussion.

Wastewater oxygen agreement Grama Kleinhans, town manager, explained the contract with Linde as part of the town’s energy-efficiency project with Leopardo Group, which negotiated lower supply rates by leveraging group buying. Kleinhans said the per-unit rate under the new agreement is $0.75 per cubic foot compared with $1.40 per cubic foot in 2024 and that the town expects about $19,237 in annual savings based on 2024 usage. She also said delivery charges will fall from $96.50 to $50 per delivery and that certain prior fees (referenced in the discussion as an $85 and a $24 charge) were removed or reduced. The council voted to approve the product supply agreement and authorized the town manager to finalize the contract.

Firefighter contract and salary ordinance The council approved a negotiated agreement with the Speedway Professional Firefighters Association Local 416 covering Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026. Town staff described the deal as a 7% compensation increase in total, with firefighters agreeing to give back a 3% performance incentive; staff presented that structure as a net conventional increase of 4% for base pay and retirement-calculation purposes. The contract also adds two vacation days and includes language addressing minimum manning. The union had signed the agreement as presented.

Philip Faust, town court treasurer, presented an ordinance (14-O-9) to implement the pay changes from the contract by amending ordinances 14-O-3, 14-O-6, 14-O-7 and 14-O-8; the council approved the ordinance on first reading and then voted to adopt it the same evening by unanimous vote. Council discussion noted that implementation will follow payroll procedures; the meeting record indicates the town manager and staff will apply the changes to the next payroll cycle (the transcript did not clearly specify the final paycheck date).

Pension contribution resolution The council approved Resolution 2025-06, which steps down the town’s employer pickup of a mandatory member contribution for the fire department. Staff explained the agreement reduces the town’s pickup from 6% to 3% this year, with a plan to reduce it to 0% the following year; staff said the town will continue to make the employer contributions statutorily required and that the change will be forwarded to the pension system for processing (the transcript referenced both MPERS and INPRS).

TIF report and claims Grant (presenting for the redevelopment commission) presented the 2024 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) annual report required by state statute; no council action was required. The council also approved claims and utility adjustments for the period March 6, 2025, through March 28, 2025, totaling $3,029,907.32. The clerk noted one $112.20 claim (Asbury Water Technology) was removed from the docket pending documentation.

Council context and concerns During discussion of the firefighter agreement council members acknowledged the lengthy negotiations, said they appreciated the firefighters’ service, and expressed concern about budget pressure if property-tax revenues fall; one councilor described public-safety payroll as a large percentage of the town budget and urged fiscal conservatism given revenue uncertainty. The town manager said Leopardo Group will continue to pursue procurement savings across water, wastewater and other town departments and that those savings are audited annually as part of the energy-efficiency project.

Votes at a glance - Product supply agreement with Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. for bulk liquid oxygen for the wastewater treatment plant — approved (5-0); town manager authorized to finalize contract. - Agreement between Town of Speedway and Speedway Professional Firefighters Association Local 416 (01/01/2025–12/31/2026) — approved (5-0). - Ordinance 14-O-9 (amending ordinances 14-O-3, 14-O-6, 14-O-7 and 14-O-8; 2025 jobs and salaries) — adopted (5-0). - Resolution 2025-06 (employer pickup adjustment for mandatory member pension contribution for Speedway Fire Department) — approved (5-0). - Approval of claims and utility adjustments for 03/06/2025–03/28/2025 totaling $3,029,907.32 — approved (5-0).

What’s next: Staff will finalize the Linde contract and forward pension pickup changes to the pension administrator. The town manager and finance staff will implement salary adjustments through payroll; the TIF paperwork will be uploaded to the state gateway as required by April (staff named Philip Faust and Krone as responsible for gateway filing).