Speedway residents are about to see their sewer bills climb, after the Town Council signed off on a wastewater rate hike to pay for a state-mandated expansion of the community's aging treatment plant. The unanimous vote followed a packed public hearing where worries over affordability ran straight into warnings about environmental violations and sewage overflows.
Council action and the vote
The council adopted the rate ordinance without opposition after the public hearing, a move that formally creates a dedicated revenue stream for the project, according to WISH‑TV. Council members said the town had run out of road to kick the can down, and that the fee change is the only way to cover the mounting costs tied to state requirements.
What the expansion will add
Town officials describe a sizable overhaul. The plan calls for a new combined sewer tank, a separate wet-weather treatment facility and replacement and modernization of the plant's ultraviolet disinfection equipment, along with other upgrades needed to keep the system in compliance. The work is expected to cost between $15 million and $18 million and will be financed with sewer-revenue bonds that are set to be repaid over roughly 20 years. No state grants are available to offset those expenses, the town says, according to the Town of Speedway.
Why regulators demanded the work
The construction push traces back to an agreed order Speedway reached with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management after the town reported multiple permit violations. Those included excess phosphorus and E. coli turning up in Eagle Creek, with compliance problems documented between August 2022 and May 2025, according to public records and coverage reviewed by Mirror Indy. Regulators made it clear that upgraded capacity and treatment were no longer optional.
Residents push back
At the hearing, several residents urged the council to hunt for other funding sources instead of leaning on monthly bills. One attendee, Terri Combs, summed up the anxiety for those on fixed incomes, telling officials, "Everything is going up except for my Social Security," as reported by WISH‑TV. Council president Nick Sturgeon and other members countered that local businesses, with their higher water use, will ultimately shoulder larger per-unit charges than most households.
Cost to households and next steps
For now, the town estimates an average household using up to 4,400 gallons of water per month will see roughly an $8 to $12 increase in its sewer bill. The current minimum monthly charge is expected to jump from about $26 to around $38, according to the Town of Speedway. Construction bids were set to open last Thursday, and officials say both the work and the bond financing will roll out in phases over the coming years.
How the town will proceed
The council has already approved engineering and rate-study contracts to nail down the detailed design and long-term financing plan. Local meeting records show a series of follow-up votes and task orders that keep the project moving toward full construction, according to Citizen Portal. Town leaders are also pointing residents to utility-assistance resources and urging anyone worried about keeping up with bills to call 211 for help exploring available options.
