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Evansville utility board holds public hearing on large water-treatment upgrades, adopts confirmatory and bond resolutions
Summary
The board opened a public hearing on a declaratory resolution about potential water-treatment improvements, heard public comment urging alternatives to the Ohio River (including groundwater and Patoka Lake), adopted a confirmatory resolution and approved a bond resolution authorizing financing up to $237.8 million, with an initial issuance anticipated of about $50 million.
The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility board opened a public hearing on a previously adopted declaratory resolution regarding potential water-treatment improvements and financing, heard public comment urging evaluation of alternatives to Ohio River withdrawals, then adopted a confirmatory resolution and a bond resolution to authorize financing.
Speaker 11 summarized the background: at the board's Nov. 12 meeting the board adopted a declaratory resolution (transcript reference "20 20 four-two") finding a need to undertake water-treatment projects. The record presented to the board included an estimated maximum project cost (as read into the record) of $297,650,000. Speaker 11 explained the requirement to hold a public hearing on the declaratory resolution and then adopt a confirmatory resolution before proceeding with bonding and project planning.
During the public comment portion Brent Jackson, who identified himself as president of the Presidents Neighborhood Association and a former board member of United Neighborhoods of Evansville, urged the utility to reduce or remove the Ohio River as a primary source of finished water. Jackson recommended studying groundwater wells and a pipeline to Patoka Lake (potentially in partnership with Gibson County Water) as alternative sources. He also cited documentation filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in June 2021 that he said identified an estimated loss of 3,600,000 gallons per day (about 16% of finished water) due to leaks and other undocumented usage and urged prioritizing leak detection before constructing new facilities.
After closing the public hearing, the board moved to adopt a confirmatory resolution (transcript reference "20 24 dash o 3") to confirm the declaratory resolution and authorize the board to proceed with planning and to provide for financing. The motion to adopt the confirmatory resolution passed by voice vote.
The board then considered a lengthy bond resolution (transcript reference "20 24 0 4") authorizing financing for the water projects not to exceed $237,800,000; the presenter said the utility plans to issue about $50,000,000 initially and noted the bond resolution establishes parameters including a maximum interest rate of 6% (staff said near-term financings are expected closer to 3%). The board adopted the bond resolution by voice vote.
No specific project-level approvals or contractor selections tied to the declaratory resolution were finalized at the meeting; the bond resolution and confirmatory resolution authorize staff to continue planning and bring project-specific financing and contract approvals back to the board as those details are developed.
