Whitestown council approves sale of water utility to Citizens Energy Group after weeks of public debate

The Whitestown Town Council voted 4-1 on Aug. 13 to approve Ordinance No. 2025-15, authorizing the disposition of the town's waterworks utility and enabling execution of an asset purchase agreement (APA) with Citizens Energy Group. The ordinance sets a minimum sale price of $37,000,000 and gives the town council president authority to execute the finalized purchase agreement once negotiated.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment and council discussion focused on terms in the purchase agreement. Residents raised concerns that the APA, which staff said had been posted online about 48 hours before the meeting, left language that could allow future owners, contractors or affiliates to drill new high-capacity wells or otherwise affect existing private wells. Resident Tim Kramer submitted and read an affidavit calling for an election on the sale; Kevin Russell questioned whether Citizens would impose large capacity charges and warned about future rate increases.

Council members and Citizens representatives answered residents' questions on specific points. Jeff…