The Michigan City Water Works Board discussed preparations for a planned rate case and the related need to sell revenue bonds, and staff said the city council has offered formal support. Staff told the board on Dec. 23 that rate-case documents should be filed this week and that information from the Michigan City Common Council’s unanimous supporting resolution will be shared with the utility’s attorneys.

Board staff said the board has already approved a rate structure and a bond resolution on its side, and that the city council’s 9–0 vote to support bond issuance provides helpful local backing for the utility’s financing plan. Staff said bond agencies will review several years of financials and will want to see a healthy improvement fund balance before agreeing to terms and pricing for any sale.

"We will have documents filed for the rate case, like I said, hopefully by the end of this week," said Unidentified staff (speaker 4), who briefed the board on the filing timeline and next steps. The staff presentation noted that the utility will need to sell bonds after a rate-case approval and that the bond process requires careful preparation of the utility’s financial position.

The discussion included a reminder that the business plan being reviewed does not assume additional revenue from the pending rate case, since the outcome and timing remain uncertain. The board did not take a final vote on bond issuance at this meeting; staff said the council’s resolution will be incorporated into legal filings as they pursue the rate case and, if approved, the subsequent bond sale.

Next steps: staff will file the rate-case documents and continue work with bond counsel, and the board will address necessary follow-ups in future meetings.