Logansport Waterworks and Electric Company
The city of Logansport has operated a power plant since 1895. In 1888, before the city started generating, the Fort Wayne-based Jenney Electric Light Co. had built the first power plant in town, north of 8th Street.
The electric system was purchased by the City of Logansport in 1894 for $57,000. The electricity was provided by generators turned by waterpower. The power plant was located at Eighth and Race street on the Eel River. In 1911, a cable carrier was constructed to move coal from the Vandalia railroad across the Eel River, to the power plant, cheapening the handling of coal.
Bring in the steam…
In August of 1958, a steam-powered generator was installed to provide the expanding need for electricity. This system was further improved in 1970 with the installation of a dual-fired, (gas or oil) turbine generator. Electricity for the system was provided by two coal-fired steam generating plants of 16,500 KW and 22,000 KW capacity. The remaining needs were purchased wholesale from Duke Energy until the end of 2018.
Ongoing changes
In 1993, the plant's emissions controls are upgraded that prevent 99 percent of soot particles from being released into the air. In 2012, a request was made for proposals to develop a plant powered by refuse-derived fuel with forthcoming regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would make it more expensive to burn coal. The generator plant closed in April 2016. The facility's air permit with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management couldn't be renewed in January 2016 because the plant was not equipped to follow new emissions rules from the EPA and upgrades were deemed too expensive.
Reliable service continues
Logansport Utilities now distributes electricity from NextEra Energy, Inc. The distribution system transmits this electricity to businesses and residences in the servicing area, using more than twenty miles of transmission lines to seven substations. At these locations, the electricity is transformed to a usable level and distributed to the businesses and homes in the area. Electricity is provided to more than 12,600 customers. This service uses 400 miles of lines to serve these customers and the street lighting for the city. This service is maintained 24 hours per day. The electric department facilities are located at 728 Bringhurst Street and 824 Michigan Avenue. Demolition of the old generating plant was completed in April 2022.
River waterworks
Low-head dams, sometimes called weirs, were built extensively in the 1800s to raise the water level upstream on rivers in Indiana to assist with navigation by boats, create drops for generating hydropower, or make water available for drinking and irrigation.
The 10th Street Dam on the Eel River in Logansport was constructed in 1854 and completed in 1857 for the Logansport Waterworks and Electric Company. The plant for the Logansport Waterworks Company was built in 1876, and that of the Logansport Electric Company in 1895. A smaller dam was built in 1835, that crosses the Eel River between the 10th Street Dam and the confluence with the Wabash River. Both dams were removed in winter 2021.
Providing clean water
In 1914, water was provided to the Logansport community with a filter plant built next to the electric generating plant. The system was improved in 1954 when a water treatment plant was built. The old water plant was located at 11th and Race Streets, on the Eel river. It was decommissioned in late 2013 due to the plant being outdated. This plant removed water from the Eel River, treated it with chemicals, and distributed it to the community. The capacity of this plant was six million gallons of water per day. The water was treated with aluminum sulfate, potassium permanganate, and chlorine. Fluoride was also added before the water was distributed to the users.
No major additions were made to the original facility until 1978. Improvements made at that time included rehabilitation and modification to the existing treatment units, additional primary and secondary capacity, and new sludge conditioning facilities. The building was demolished in the summer of 2021 and the land was given back to the City of Logansport for development.
Maintaining water ways
The current water department is housed at 728 Bringhurst Street, serving around 7,300 customers with employees monitoring a well field distribution system 24\7. The Distribution & Collection crew is also located at the field office and those employees are tasked with operating and maintaining 123 miles of water main, 135 miles of sewer main, and 20 miles of stormwater piping.
Wastewater treatment
A wastewater treatment plant was built in 1958 at 1400 West Wabash Avenue. In 1982, the Logansport Wastewater Plant was recognized as the safest plant in Indiana. In 1984, another improvement was completed which increased the treating capacity to nine million gallons per day. In 2000, chlorination/dichlorination system was expanded and changes were made to the plant’s biosolids classification switching it from Class A to a Class B sludge.
From 2014-2016, the High Flow/Wet Weather Abatement Project included a number of improvements including the addition of two secondary clarifiers, the implementation of phosphorus treatment via chemical addition and precipitation and converting the original 1958 plant aerator basins and secondary clarifiers into EQ basins.
The current wastewater treatment plant is staffed by 16 employees. Nearly 7,500 customers are served by the facility and the largest industrial customer is Tyson Foods, which contributes approximately 30% to the dry weather plant influent flow.
NEW LOGO AND TRANSITION TO ‘LOGANSPORT UTILITIES’
In February 25, 2022 Logansport Municipal Utilities launched a rebranding, which included a new logo, as the name of the company transitioned to Logansport Utilities.
The company has gone by different names and logos/looks throughout its more than 125 years as an electric and water distribution/collection entity. Those names include Logansport Waterworks and Electric Company, City of Logansport Electric Light Department, and City of Logansport Municipal Utilities.
The previous logo design was created in the 1990’s with blue stripes and the letters L M U typed vertically. The new logo shows a multi-blue colored 3D sphere with a bolt in the center, with the words LOGANSPORT UTILITIES and EST. 1895 under the sphere. Throughout 2022, the new logo replaced the former logo on all the company’s signage and materials for branding.
Out with the old, in with the new
In March 2022, Logansport Utilities (formerly Logansport Municipal Utilities/LMU) replaced the old, defunct postcard utility bills with new enveloped, full sized letter billing paperwork.
The new bills are printed on 8.5 inch by 11-inch white paper, with the company’s new logo printed on them. They arrive in mailboxes in envelopes.
24-hour, Self-Serve Kiosk Installed
The new 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, self-serve kiosk installation was completed April 29, 2024, permanently replacing the former drop box. Customers wanting to travel to the city building to pay their utility bills can do so in the north entrance of the city building at 601 East Broadway in Logansport.
The kiosk accepts cash, checks, and card payments. Card payments are subject to an additional third party bank fee.
Multiple language instructions are provided while using the kiosk:
English, Español (Spanish), ြမန်မာ (Burmese), Kreyol ayisyen (HaitianCreole)
Bill payments can be made by several convenient methods including:
The self-serve kiosk at 601 E Broadway, Logansport, Indiana
*Free Automatic Bank Withdrawal (ACH), which withdrawals the bill payment automatically from a checking account once a month. Sign up with a customer service team member or filling out the online form at www.logansportutilities.com
Mailing payment in with tear-off section of the front side of the bill with account number and making check payable to Logansport Utilities.
Calling customer service at 574-753-6231 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Paying online with credit/debit card, along with a third party bank card fee at www.logansportutilities.com
Utility Service Board
Since 1978, the Utility Service Board, in accordance with a voter referendum, governs Logansport Utilities. This five-member board consists of three Mayoral appointees and two City Council appointees. Each member is appointed for a four-year term. A Superintendent of Utilities is responsible for the operation of Logansport Utilities while the board is responsible for establishing general policy. The board also approves an annual budget and recommends rates and charges. Action by the Logansport City Council is required to make the rates and charges legally enforceable. The public is invited to attend board meetings, which are held the 4th Tuesday of every month at 5:00p.m. in the board room, located on the third floor of the city building.
2024 Board Meetings:
JANUARY 23
FEBRUARY27
MARCH 26
APRIL 23
MAY 28
JUNE 25
JULY 23
AUGUST 27
SEPTEMBER 24
OCTOBER 21*
NOVEMBER 26
DECEMBER 17*
*Date adjusted for holiday.
Logansport Utilities’ superintendent and customer service offices are located in the Logansport city building at 601 E Broadway Street.
© 2024 Logansport Utilities