Residents press council on utility rate hikes and brown-water incidents; hearings scheduled

A substantial block of public comment focused on recent and proposed utility rate increases and water quality concerns. Residents said they had seen notable increases in utility bills and described brown water incidents; several asked for greater transparency and community oversight. "It's already a done deal. It's going to be up 120%," one resident said about a pending water rate step (statement echoed in public comment), and others described receiving larger-than-expected bills.

Council members and staff described the procedural path for rate adjustments: some increases already passed one council reading and will come before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) for matters that fall under state jurisdiction; other local readings remain municipal decisions. The council scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and a special meeting Thursday for second and potential third readings; officials invited residents to present written lists of concerns and to register to speak (three-minute limit).

Council staff and councilors acknowledged residents' frustration and described ongoing infrastructure work to reduce water loss and meet compliance obligations. Tiffany Harless, identified in the meeting as a chief deputy in the Anderson Trustees office, and other staff offered to direct residents to utility staff and regulatory appeal options. The council said it will make technical staff —including the superintendent and utility engineers— available at the hearings to answer specific operational questions.