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Utility officials report water-plant progress; board proposes fee and pay increases
Summary
Thorntown utility officials told the council Oct. 20 that water-plant design is progressing and that the Utility Board recommends a new 15% administrative fee for service-line upgrades and increases to utility-board and street-work compensation; the changes will appear in the 2026 Salary Ordinance for council approval.
Thorntown utility officials reported on Oct. 20 that the town's water-plant design is moving forward and that the Utility Board has recommended multiple fee and compensation changes that will be placed on the 2026 Salary Ordinance for council review.
Dan Cutshaw of CDS Engineers said the water-plant design “is going well” and that well drillers are ready to begin work once the woods at the drilling site are cleared; he said the project must be finalized by February 2027 to meet OCRA award requirements. The update was presented to the council during the regular meeting at Thorntown Town Hall.
Utility Board member Erick Smith told the council the board met with Arbor Homes about fees for a new community and recommended increases to the Utility Board's compensation for 2026: raising the Utility Board president's annual pay from $1,200 to $3,000 and regular members' pay from $1,000 to $2,500. Utility Superintendent Earl Parsons reported on operational items, including plans to obtain fill dirt from a gravel pit to repair ruts at the Fire Department and hydrant flushing scheduled for the week of Oct. 20; customers were notified of the flushing.
Parsons also presented a reassessment of street-work compensation that would increase quarterly pay for general laborers from $1,200 to $4,800 and for the superintendent from $1,500 to $6,000. Council members were told these proposed changes will be noted on the 2026 Salary Ordinance for review and formal approval by the Town Council at the end of 2025.
The council also heard that the Utility Board adopted Resolution No. 2025-1, authorizing a 15% administrative fee to be applied when a customer seeks an upgrade or extension of existing service lines or facilities; the resolution was read to the meeting attendees.
No formal vote on the salary or compensation recommendations or on the administrative fee took place at the Oct. 20 meeting; council action on those items is expected as part of the upcoming 2026 Salary Ordinance process.
