HIGHLAND | In seeking a referendum on the Town Council's vote to opt out of oversight by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Rick Volbrecht said Tuesday he has obtained 25 additional signatures, bringing the total number of signatures to 261.

Volbrecht, a former member of the Highland School Board, will continue the petition drive through Friday, the last day petitions can be accepted.

The Town Council voted May 12 to forego state oversight of water utility rate hikes, but the process allows a 60-day window to seek a referendum.

Volbrecht said he has calculated only 118 signatures are needed, a figure with which Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin is in agreement.

Should town officials verify the numbers are accurate and that the signers are registered voters, it appears likely the issue will be placed on the ballot in November.

"I urge you to sign this petition whether you support or oppose the Town Council's adoption of an ordinance to remove Highland from the IURC," Volbrecht said. "A referendum provides you with the opportunity to directly support or directly oppose the Town Council's action."

Volbrecht said offering voters the opportunity to weigh in on the issue was the primary reason for his efforts.

To Volbrecht, the strongest argument made by proponents is a claim it costs $50,000 to appear before the IURC.

Volbrecht said he doesn't believe it costs the town $50,000 to make a case for a water rate hike downstate. Still, giving the town the benefit of the doubt, Volbrecht said that figure amounts to only 42 cents a month per rate payer for oversight by the state.

Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin said Monday he could not verify the accuracy of the $50,000 figure. It's likely, however, the figure was higher than usual in 1990 when a rate hike last was argued before the IURC. That was because the case included both a rate hike and a bond issue, he said.

Last month, Public Works Director John Bach said 344 of 388 nonprivate water utilities have opted out of the IURC. They include Munster, St. John, Schererville and Dyer.