Centerville water bills will increase

Aside from council members, no residents spoke during public hearings about Centerville’s proposed increase for water rates and charges or the town’s 2026 budget.

Water

Later in the Sept. 9 meeting, council approved the phased increase, which will cover an unexpected $575,000 to complete water distribution system improvements.

Centerville had received a grant for lead removal to offset costs, but once the work began, less lead was found than anticipated, so those funds will have to be used for other projects.

Rates will increase 5% next year, followed by a fourth phase of another 5% boost. The average customer will pay $2.72 more monthly, then an additional $2.84 monthly in 2027.

Budget

Centerville leaders are bracing for a large decrease in 2027 tax funds, but are making a few changes to their proposed 2026 budget.

Dan Wandersee, council president, said the figures are similar to those of 2025.

Indiana’s Department of Local Government Finance will review the proposed budget and could make cuts.

Some police department wages were increased, and Centerville Fire/Rescue would receive an additional $1,500 toward training.

Council is advertising a budget of $1,824,698 for the general fund; $52,928 for debt service; $50,000 for local streets/roads; $56,000 in motor vehicle highway; cumulative capital of $105,000, $27,000 and $33,000; $10,000 in casino/riverboat income; $110,000 in economic development income; $80,900 from Center Township for the fire department; and $13,643 for fire station debt. That’s a total of $2,363,169.

Budget adoption is expected at council’s 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, workshop in town hall, 220 E. Main St. It’s open to the public.

In other business

• Christmas in Centerville’s new volunteer chair, Rose Slack, has a committee developing plans for this year’s event, 4-7 p.m. Dec. 6, concluding with a parade.
• Councilors will look over Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County’s plans for a new land bank to repurpose buildings and prevent blight. EDC has committed $100,000 to get it started. All communities are invited to join. To get a seat on the board, Centerville would need to make a commitment of $5,000 at council’s next work session.
• Gerald Millsaps noted that in August, property owners voluntarily resolved 13 code enforcement issues after being contacted. Sixteen building permits were issued that month.
• Council approved a purchase from Central Square Technologies for $8,865.92 and a recurring cost of $3,405.92 for Centerville Fire/Rescue from the fire equipment fund. Those conducting runs will have access to the computer-aided dispatch system so they can see notes from dispatchers, call history for that property and other relevant information while heading to the scene.
• Despite council and town attorney Ed Martin establishing parameters for a potential sale of an easement at a previous meeting, no residents made offers for that easement by the deadline. Prior interest had been expressed in the easement to install a sanitary sewer lateral for a business on the town’s west side.
• Council voted 5-0 to reject a $326.59 sewer bill adjustment request related to a water leak under a home because town employees weren’t called to verify that the water didn’t go into the sewer before repairs were made. That process could take less than 10 minutes, councilor Gary Holbert said.