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Darmstadt council flags rising sewer costs, bond payment and Evansville Sewer billing concerns
Summary
Council heard that sewer expenditures exceeded collections last month and year-to-date, with large payments to Evansville Sewer and a $75,000 bond invoice due while the town awaits property tax revenue. Attorney and staff said they have sent records requests and will follow up on estimated mag meter billings.
The Darmstadt Town Council on June 17 approved routine minutes and financial reports and spent most of its discussion on sewer finances that show expenditures outpacing collections.
Clerk-Treasurer Mallory Lowe told the council that town tax receipts for the last month totaled $47,744 and expenditures were $16,693, with year-to-date receipts of $161,184 against expenditures of $164,617. For the sewer utility, Lowe reported last-month collections of $54,761 and expenditures of $77,495, including a single $51,000 invoice from Evansville Sewer. Year-to-date sewer collections stand at $322,553 while expenditures total $345,990; Lowe said more than $238,000 of sewer payments have gone to Evansville Sewer for its charges and mandated fees related to Darmstadt.
Lowe also reported operational details: 223 of 550 sewer accounts are signed up for autopay, and 15 homes will be billed using a summer-averaging program that begins with bills mailed this month.
The council heard that the town received a $75,000 invoice from BOK Financial for an Old State Land bond payment that the town cannot yet cover because it is awaiting property tax distributions from the county. Lowe said the semi-annual payment will be due again in December.
On billing operations, attorney Josh Claybourn told the council the town has sent a letter and a public records request to Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) over mandate charges and that he will follow up after staff reported EWSU estimated the town's last mag meter billing instead of using reads. Claybourn said the town will seek clarification from Evansville Sewer to resolve the discrepancy.
Council members did not take further formal action on sewer policy at the meeting; motions on routine business all passed by 4-0 voice votes. Lowe said she is preparing the town's pre-budget report for 2026 to submit to the Department of Local Government Finance by the June 30 deadline.
The council deferred action on a held invoice of $2,750 from Krohn and Associates and will address it at a future meeting once members provide direction. The council adjourned at 7:23 p.m.
