Huntingburg Council, Utility Board Meet After Major Winter Storm

Preventative maintenance and planning paid off for Huntingburg during a major winter storm, city officials said, with the electric system remaining online even as snow brought much of the city to a halt. “Preventative maintenance and planning ahead paid dividends during this week’s storm, as Energy Superintendent John Reutepohler reported no power outages.”

The Huntingburg Common Council and Utility Board met Tuesday night in the storm’s immediate aftermath to review operations and approve measures aimed at shoring up infrastructure. The Council approved a 3-year, $17,553 service agreement for a SCADA system alert system, which provides real-time electrical system monitoring and sends alerts if a circuit goes down. The monitoring contract is intended to give utility staff earlier warning of problems so crews can respond faster when weather or equipment issues arise.

Officials also accepted a $31,000 quote for a 3-phase transformer to support an expansion on Phoenix Drive, a step that will supply added capacity for that neighborhood as projects move forward. In a separate operational statistic highlighted at the meeting, staff reported that “In 2025, the department had 3,125 utility locate requests through 811.” With no new developments on the horizon, staff said “Fewer new service connections are expected in 2026 since there are no new developments.”

Water work and public-safety items were a second focus of the joint session. “Water Superintendent Jerry Austin said crews recently repaired water main breaks at East 2nd and on 5th Street from Walnut to Geiger, and another on Old State 231 just hours before the snowstorm.” That rapid repair work reduced immediate disruption to customers and likely helped avoid more serious outages during the storm.

The board flagged several maintenance needs that bear on public safety. “4 fire hydrants that drain slowly or are difficult to turn will need to be replaced, and the metering system installation is almost complete.” At the city’s filter plant, officials addressed a persistent leak. “At the filter plant, repairs were made to Filter 5, which was losing water at a rate of approximately 10 gallons per hour. The leaks were repaired, and a preventative coating will be added to extend its lifespan.”

For Huntingburg residents, the meeting mixed reassurance and reminders. The absence of power outages during the storm underscores the benefits of regular upkeep and faster electronic monitoring. At the same time, the need to replace malfunctioning hydrants and finish the metering rollout shows work still to be done to bolster water reliability and emergency response.

City leaders approved the monitoring contract and transformer purchase this week and completed key repairs ahead of the worst weather. Expect follow-up from utility staff as SCADA is deployed, the Phoenix Drive expansion proceeds, and plans develop for hydrant replacements and final metering activation aimed at keeping Huntingburg safe and services steady during future storms.