Whitestown, Indiana
The Whitestown Town Council on July 22 completed the first reading of Ordinance 2025-15, which would authorize the disposition of the town's waterworks to Citizens Energy Group, and set a second reading for the council's regular meeting on Aug. 13. Council members approved the special-session agenda by voice vote and did not take a waiver vote to move immediately to a second reading.

Why it matters: The ordinance would transfer operation of the town's water utility to a private utility company, raising questions from residents about rates, service, and whether residents on private wells would be required to connect to the new system.

During public comment, several residents and a Citizens Energy Group (CEG) representative spoke. Ken Kingsville, a Whitestown resident, asked the council to include the asset purchase agreement as an exhibit to the ordinance so the public can review the specific sale terms before later votes. "I would hope that that purchase agreement would be included as an exhibit, at the next reading," Kingsville said. He also noted the ordinance currently does not attach the asset purchase agreement as an exhibit.

Josiah Smiley, who identified himself as a long-time Whitestown resident, told the council that water access matters to him for health reasons and said the sale was one he would support if eligible to vote. "Water is very important to me," Smiley said.

Craig Jackson, chief financial officer at Citizens Energy Group, told the council and residents that CEG would commit not to force homeowners on private wells to connect to the utility and that the company could include that promise in the asset purchase agreement. "We can confirm that we will make that commitment, and we can include a reference to that in the asset purchase agreement," Jackson said.

Council members and staff also discussed related concerns raised at recent community meetings. Councilwoman Hancock said she had reached out to Westfield officials about their experience and reported mixed feedback; she relayed a claim that recent rate increases in Westfield were made by the town rather than Citizens. "Citizens themselves have never raised the rates up until last year," Hancock said at the meeting, adding that some longtime residents had been upset by changes such as the removal of a town name from a water tower.

Council members emphasized that sewer services are not part of the proposed sale and that the town would retain sewer operations. Council members also described outreach plans: the council said about 30 resident meetings and outreach events are planned between the ordinance's introduction and the Aug. 13 final vote to gather public input and answer questions.

Procedural steps and next actions: The council completed the ordinance's first reading and will take up a second reading and any possible final vote at its regular meeting on Aug. 13. Citizens Energy Group indicated it will add specific language to the asset purchase agreement to address private-well connections, and residents requested that the purchase agreement be attached as an exhibit to the ordinance for public review prior to any final council action.

Ending: The special session adjourned following the first-reading discussion. Council members encouraged residents to attend scheduled outreach sessions and the Aug. 13 council meeting for further public comment and any final vote on Ordinance 2025-15.