Copyright Chicago Tribune
Chesterton residents would see their utility bills increase by 6.58% in 2026 under a rate proposal being made by the town’s utility board. Larry Brandt, the utility board’s president, outlined the request during Monday’s Chesterton Town Council meeting. A hearing on the rate increase will be held at a November council meeting before the council votes. The new rate for the bill, which includes sewer, stormwater and trash pickup, would take effect on Jan. 1. Brandt told the Post-Tribune that the rate increase was adjusted downward from the 11.64% that was discussed during the Oct. 20 utility board meeting. The rate increase would be 6.05% for unmetered customers, while residents in the neighboring town of Porter would see a 5.36% increase. Chesterton provides sewage treatment services for the town of Porter. “Our rates have been, and are projected to be, just below the middle of the rates for our neighboring communities,” Brandt said. In addition, the utility board will contribute to the Chesterton funds that would provide a $1 per hour pay increase for all of the town’s 104 employees. Brandt noted that the town’s budget for 2026 includes a 2% raise, so the net effect is that town employees will be getting around a 5% increase. Since 2021, the utility board has been making contributions toward improving town employee pay. That first contribution increased employee pay by 10% in 2022. Brandt noted that back in 2021, town employees were averaging around $18 an hour. Now, employees are making more than $30 per hour on average, which is around what is considered a living wage in Indiana. “It has been our goal for the past three rate review periods to achieve at least parity with the fundamental need for financial minimum security,” Brandt said. In other business, the council, with no comment, approved its budget for 2026. The total budget is $23,244,184, while the general fund, which finances the police and fire departments that have the most employees, will be $9,000,120. Council also approved an initial motion to authorize and provide for a general obligation bond for the Parks Department. The town is considering a bond for up to $3 million that would be repaid over 15 years. The final terms have not been settled yet. Proceeds from the bond would help the town finance improvements to its park system. One of the projects being considered is to develop a 27-acre parcel off Dickinson Road that would include a dog park. The town has identified $6.733 million in projects within the town’s park system as part of its 5-year Parks Master Plan, certified in May by the state Department of Natural Resources. Council also held a public hearing regarding the vacation of the public right-of-way where the Duneland YMCA is building. The YMCA is building new structures along with renovating portions of a school building that formerly housed Chesterton Middle School, which also once served as the high school. Attorney Greg Babcock noted that the public right-of-way had for years been covered by the Goldsborough Gym and a school building wing. Both the gym and the building wing were razed. The Duneland YMCA is leasing its property from the Duneland School Corporation, which still has its administrative offices and runs some programs in the remaining portion of the old school building. Council will vote on the right-of-way vacation at its next meeting on Nov. 10. Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
