Huntingburg Mayor Elkins speaks up about Crossvine inaccuracies

The City of Huntingburg posted this message on its official Facebook account today in response to inaccuracies published on the No BESS in Dubois County Facebook page. There is a link to the Facebook post he refers to at the end of this message.

Additionally, we wrote several stories covering the water rate increase process and the reasoning for the increase earlier this year.

Below is a message from Mayor Elkins:

Recently, a social media post was made by an anonymous author that contained inaccurate information that seemed to suggest special favors and collusion among Huntingburg City Council members in conjunction with the Crossvine Solar project. While I rarely pay much attention to anonymous keyboard warriors, I have found it necessary to address several accusations contained in the post.

The first false accusation is regarding Huntingburg water rates going up because of the Crossvine project. As discussed in two public rate hearings, Huntingburg has experienced increased costs for the water that the city purchases from Patoka Lake. The city also has debt to repay a loan used for the repair of a filter cell at the water treatment plant that costs the water utility over $1M. Also included in the rate increase are the future costs of rehabilitating three water towers to meet OSHA and IDEM standards.

When a rate increase is being investigated the City hires an outside rate consultant. Our rate consultant has been doing consulting work since 1978 and is well respected in the industry. Our utility rate consultant collaborates with city elected officials, the city treasurer and other city employees to get an accurate picture of the utility’s financial picture and future financial obligations. Once a rate recommendation is made, it is presented to the Utility Rate Advisory Board (URAB) made up of local citizens. The URAB then makes a recommendation to the city council in a public hearing. A second public hearing is then held to adopt the rate via city ordinance. Once rates are established, they become effective in the following billing cycle. The utility is bound by city ordinance to follow the rate structure established by that ordinance.

Yes, the City of Huntingburg does sell bulk water to contractors engaged in drilling, agricultural use, dust control, filling swimming pools etc. These bulk prices are set by ordinance. No back door deals are made as has been inferred. To my knowledge the Town of Holland does not offer bulk water and St Henry water corporation is restricted on how much bulk water they can supply per their contract with Patoka Lake Regional Water and Sewer District. Potable water for the construction trailers at the Crossvine site is being supplied by St. Henry Water Corporation. The City of Huntingburg does not supply potable water to that portion of the county.

It is obvious by these facts that rate payers are not subsidizing bulk water purchases for the Crossvine Solar project. Because bulk water is usually available and our lake replenishes the supply annually through rain occurrences, and there will be no long-term impact on water resources through the sale of the water.

In reference to a request for a firetruck and emergency vehicle. Similar requests are common among local volunteer agencies. Fire departments frequently reach out to industrial users to help with financial support for emergency response efforts. The truck was not in payment for any favors. It was provided to assist in safe response efforts.

To address these efforts the City was also able to negotiate additional public safety resources and mitigation measures related to the project. This included air monitoring equipment, enhanced medical response capabilities, and updates to outdated fire response apparatus. These improvements are intended to provide the Huntingburg Fire Department with additional tools and resources necessary to address risks associated with this project, including portions located outside the city’s extra-territorial jurisdiction.

The Huntingburg Fire Department has remained actively engaged throughout this process. Their role is not political in nature, nor is it to advocate for or against development projects. Their responsibility is to protect the public through emergency preparedness, code compliance, response readiness, and firefighter safety. The department recognizes the community’s concerns regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems and understands that these systems present unique hazards that must be taken seriously.

To address those concerns, department personnel have participated in specialized classes, meetings, and training related to battery energy storage and solar energy systems and are currently developing Standard Operating Procedures specific to these incidents. Their focus remains on ensuring compliance with nationally recognized safety standards such as NFPA 855 and the International Fire Code, while preparing personnel to respond effectively should an emergency occur.

The fire service also works with professional organizations and advocacy groups at both the state and national level, like the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association (IVFA), Indiana Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). These organizations routinely participate in the development of fire codes, safety standards, training programs, and emergency response best practices related to emerging technologies, including Battery Energy Storage Systems. The Huntingburg Fire Department continues to monitor guidance, recommendations, and training opportunities provided through these organizations to ensure the department remains informed, prepared, and properly equipped to protect both the community and its firefighters.

The City will also continue reviewing and evaluating local ordinances for opportunities to further strengthen the safety of our community regarding future solar and battery energy storage developments, while remaining within the authority provided under Indiana law.

The City understands that not everyone will agree with the decisions being considered. However, throughout this process, the City Council’s goal has been to operate responsibly, lawfully, and transparently while continuing to advocate for the safety and best interests of the citizens of Huntingburg.

Here is the Facebook post Mayor Elkins is referring to.