WHITESTOWN, Ind. (WISH) — The Whitestown Town Council on Wednesday night agreed to sell its water utility to Citizens Energy Group.
News 8 first reported on the potential sale in July. The decision came after public hearings on the proposal.
Whitestown officials had gathered three appraisals for the system. An engineering appraisal totaled $83 million, and two market appraisals came in at $38 million. Citizens Energy Group had offered $37 million.
Income from the sale will go to debt service, then remaining dollars could go to other projects, according to Whitestown Council President Dan Patterson. Patterson suggested the money could help pay for a new firetruck or offset a loss of state funds under the new Indiana budget.
Citizens Energy Group has agreed to lower rates under a sale, dropping monthly bills.
The Boone County town of 14,500 residents located northwest of Indianapolis is growing fast, adding more than 4,200 residents since the 2020 Census, according to STATS Indiana.
Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Whitestown resident, had spoke in July in favor of the sale. Ballard’s administration oversaw the sale of the Indianapolis water and wastewater utilities to Citizens Energy Group. “They’ll do it better than we will do it,” Ballard said.
Whitestown Town Manager Katie Barr said in a statement issued shortly after the decision, “Tonight’s vote by the Whitestown Town Council to approve the sale of our water utility is a monumental step towards improving the quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors.”
Jeffrey Harrison, chief executive officer and president of Citizens Energy Group also issued a statement: “Citizens Energy Group is pleased with tonight’s vote and looks forward to bringing this matter before our board.”
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