For the second year in a row, Cambridge City utility workers and contractors spent hours on Christmas Day repairing big water leaks.

During town council’s special Dec. 29 meeting to handle year-end business, Joe Webb, superintendent of public works, updated council on the water main repairs that took 13 to 14 hours on the holiday.

An estimated 1.3 million gallons of water were lost near Lincoln Drive and Delaware Street. Water gushed across the street, covering a portion of the Lincoln Middle/High School track.

Webb said the line was old but had been in good shape, so he’s not sure what caused it to snap in two. Sometimes water lines break in extremely cold temperatures, but the area experienced near-record warmth that day.

Cambridge City utility workers spent about 14 hours fixing a water leak near Lincoln Middle/High School on Christmas Day. Supplied

Webb said the line has been clamped back together and a valve will need to be replaced.

Utility workers used the town’s two pumps, and Winchester-based Culy Contracting also provided equipment and workers, adding to the town’s costs, which had not been calculated.

Fortunately, a line stop wasn’t needed, which saved $50,000, Webb said.

However, expensive road repairs will be needed because the water leak led to the road buckling. That area wasn’t on the town’s list to be paved in 2026.

Councilors asked Webb to share their thanks to the employees who gave up much of their holiday to restore water service.

The Christmas 2024 leak was easier to contain, Webb said.

In other business

With 4-0 votes, council unanimously approved several items, including:

  • Town employees’ and council members’ 2026 salaries will all increase 3%. Council also amended full-time workers’ benefits to include a $2,500 Health Savings Account contribution, up from $2,000 in 2025, to combat rising insurance premiums. The town covers 85% of workers’ insurance costs. The town also increased the incentive fund for volunteer firefighters to share, based on the number of points each volunteer has earned through service during the year.
  • A transfer of $4,231.84 from the town’s health insurance fund to cover negative balances in funds for the town marshal, office clerk and telephone/internet.
  • An interlocal agreement with Wayne County government to provide Wi-Fi equipment for Creitz Park’s playground at no cost to the town. New playground equipment was purchased through community donations and a $50,000 match from Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.
  • Bonds of $30,000 for Clerk-Treasurer Sherry Ervin and $28,000 for Utility Clerk Carreen Bogue.

Appointments

  • Council voted for President Jim McLane and Vice President Mike Amick to continue their roles in 2026. McLane was absent.
  • Council makes several appointments for town/regional boards. During the meeting, council reappointed Debbie McGinley and Amick to the town’s plan commission; Frank Brattain to Board of Zoning Appeals; McGinley and Steve Sorah to Riverside Cemetery Association; and Amy Bex to Western Wayne Regional Sewage District. All are four-year terms except the cemetery board, which is for three years.
  • Council’s president also has several appointments as the town executive. McLane recently reappointed Robert Miller to plan commission and John Shrout to the board of zoning appeals. McLane has a vacancy to fill on the town’s economic development corporation.
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A version of this article appeared in the January 7 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.