HIGHLAND | Now that the town is saying goodbye to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, the Town Council is assuring residents it has no plans to raise their water bills.

"There are no water rate increases that I see in the near future," President Bernie Zemen, D-1st, said the day after residents voted to leave the IURC's jurisdiction.

The council has said it costs up to $50,000 to hire representation when pitching a rate hike to the IURC.

Councilman Mark Herak, Highland First Coalition-2nd, said the board would love to leave by Jan. 1.

"We have to wait until the election results are certified and then we have 30 days to file the results with the IURC."

While most people voted to leave the IURC, many others voted no out of fear that an immediate rate hike was being planned, Herak said. "We need to address their fears that a rate hike is on the horizon."

The council has stressed any future rate hikes would require action from both the Water Board and the council, along with a public hearing.

Herak said one change being planned is a restructuring of the water rates similar to the method used by the Sanitary Board. Residents will pay a flat fee according to their meter size, combined with their monthly usage.

"This will not result in an increase, but will make calculating one's bill easier," Herak said.

After the council voted in May to opt out of the IURC, resident Rick Volbrecht said he conducted a petition drive and gathered enough signatures to force Tuesday's referendum on whether to leave or stay with the IURC. Resident Joe Wszolek said he did research that provided Volbrecht with the proper format to conduct the petition.