Casey City Council Meeting | November 17, 2025

The Casey City Council’s meeting on November 17, 2025, focused heavily on the city’s future and its current financial health. The council held a public hearing to introduce a new comprehensive plan designed to guide development over the next decade by targeting job creation, housing, and childcare, among other resident priorities. A final vote on the plan is expected in December. For a detailed look at the city’s new roadmap, please see the full story.

In other major business, the council received its annual audit, which confirmed a $1.2 million loss in the city’s utility funds. Citing this deficit and a decline in population, the council voted to approve a 3% property tax levy increase, the first such rise in five years after a series of cuts. For a complete report on the city’s finances, please read the full article. The council also approved a property purchase, a new vehicle for public works, and several utility-related resolutions.

News Briefs

Property Purchase on SE 8th Street Approved:
The council approved Ordinance 595 for the purchase of real property located at 400 Southeast 8th Street. The approved purchase price for the property is $24,141. Action on a separate property purchase listed on the agenda, at 12 General Robey Street, was postponed.

Property at 303 E. Washington Declared Dangerous and Unsafe:
Acting on a recommendation from City Attorney Tracy Willenborg, the council approved Resolution 111725B, officially declaring the property at 303 E. Washington Street as dangerous and unsafe. This resolution allows the city to move forward with legal action to address the dilapidated and uninhabitable residential building.

New Truck Approved for Public Works Director:
The council authorized the purchase of a new Ram 1500 truck for the Director of Public Works, Ryan Staley. The vehicle will be purchased from J&K Mitchell for a state-bid price of $55,027. The funds will come from money previously allocated for a different equipment purchase that the city decided against.

Gas Transportation Agreements Amended:
The council approved amended natural gas transportation agreements with the cities of Marshall and Martinsville. The resolutions (111725E and 111725D, respectively) update long-standing agreements regarding the supply and transport of natural gas through Casey’s system. The new terms set a transportation rate of $0.250 per dekatherm with a 3% annual increase beginning in 2026.

Solar Power Credit Rate Set for 2025-2026:
The city established its net metering “avoided cost” for the upcoming fiscal year via Resolution 111725A. The rate, which is the credit that customers with solar systems receive for power they supply to the city’s grid, was set at $0.0391 per kilowatt-hour for the period of May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026.

2026 City Council Meeting Schedule Adopted:
The council officially adopted its schedule of regular meetings for the 2026 calendar year. Meetings will continue to be held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 101 W. Alabama Avenue, typically on the first and third Mondays of the month, with adjustments for holidays. The full schedule was approved under Resolution 111725F.

Bond Tax Levy Abated:
The council passed Resolution 111725C, which formally abates a tax levy of $44,851.10 previously established to pay for Series 2020 General Obligation Refunding Bonds. Because the city has sufficient alternate revenue to make the bond payments, it will not collect this property tax from citizens for the 2025 tax year.

Christmas in Fairy Tale Park to Open:
City Clerk Jeremy Mumford announced that Christmas in Fairy Tale Park will begin with a walk-through on Wednesday, November 19, and will open for drive-through traffic on Friday, November 21. He also noted that community members interested in volunteering to hand out candy canes can sign up on the event’s website.