Huntingburg Council Credits Maintenance After Storm, Approves SCADA System, Transformer

Preventative maintenance and forward planning kept Huntingburg's lights on during a snowstorm, city officials said, with Energy Superintendent John Reutepohler reporting no power outages after the storm. The Common Council and Utility Board voted Tuesday to invest in monitoring and equipment aimed at preserving that reliability.

Councilors approved a three-year service agreement for a SCADA alert system at a cost of $17,553. The system will provide real-time electrical system monitoring and send alerts if a circuit goes down, allowing crews to respond more quickly to outages or equipment failures. The utility department logged 3,125 811 utility locate requests in 2025, and staff told the board they expect fewer new service connections in 2026, a trend that will influence workload and revenue projections.

To support growth on Phoenix Drive, the board accepted a $31,000 quote for a 3-phase transformer. The transformer will serve an expansion there and is part of broader infrastructure work to meet commercial and industrial power needs in the city.

Water Superintendent Jerry Austin outlined recent water department work that kept taps flowing during the storm. Crews repaired water main breaks at East 2nd, on 5th Street from Walnut to Geiger, and on Old State 231 just hours before the snow arrived. Four fire hydrants that drain slowly or are difficult to turn were identified for replacement. The metering system installation is nearly complete, and repairs at the filter plant addressed a leak at Filter 5 that had been losing about 10 gallons per hour; leaks were fixed and a preventative coating will be applied. The department completed its 2025 year-end inventory, is collecting GIS data to upgrade mapping, and sent staff to the AWWA water conference in French Lick. All three water towers have been inspected, meeting the required three-year inspection cycle.

Parks and recreation business included approval of Amendment 2026-04 to the Park & Rec Fees Ordinance, which adjusts art department fees and adds a small damage deposit, and updates rental policies to reflect the addition of the Senior Center. In response to complaints about vicious dogs, the dog park will revert to controlled access requiring key-card entry and registration with proof of vaccination.

Other agenda items handled by the council included sale of a city van with a high bid of $2,723, adoption of ordinances authorizing a fire protection contract and a recreation services contract with Patoka Township, approval of a 2025 utilities write-off totaling $9,927.40, and the reappointment of Eric Olinger to a four-year term on the Huntingburg Economic Development Commission. Mayor Elkins and the board thanked city employees for extra hours worked during the storm.

For Huntingburg residents, the meeting confirmed that recent maintenance and targeted investments aim to sustain service reliability during extreme weather and support local development. With fewer new service connections expected in 2026, officials will be watching workload and budget implications as the city balances infrastructure upgrades with fiscal planning.