07-27-11 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ot ._/_C` &ie/ (%ay /izaa 5t5 Lill le Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 5511.'7 -1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 www.ci.ltt..fle- canada.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Blesener & Members of City Council FROM: Bill Direl<s, Public Works Superintendent DATE: July 21, 2011 RE: Water Meter Replacement Project MAYOR Bill Clemency COUNCIL Rick Montour John reels Michael McGraw Shelly I1oss ADMWIS'1'Ri TOR Joel R. Ilansori The City advertised for bids on replacing all of the City's water meters and upgrading the reading system. Staff requested pricing on two options. Option A was for a drive -by radio -read system where an employee drives throug h the City and picks up readings from the truck. Option 13 was fora fixed- network system where meter readings are transmitted from each house to a data collector on the water tower and then downloaded directly onto the Utility Billing Clerk's computer. Both systems call for the furnishing and installation of all meters. No City staff' will be used except for emergencies and unresponsive property owners. As we have discussed in previous meetings, the fixed- network system provides tremendous customer service capabilities. It would allow staff to stay out front of potential water leaks in homes and notify property owners before the leak gets out of hand. It can also detect stopped meters or meters that have been tampered with. The drive -by system offers some of those features as well but only once a quarter. The fixed - network system provides information daily. Both systems will greatly simplify billing procedures, especially in terns of final readings. The data can simply be uploaded to the billing system and bills can be generated. We received bids from two vendors: Dakota Supply Group representing Badger Meters and Ferguson Waterworks representing Neptune Meters. A third bicl was sought from Mueller systems but they opted not to submit a hid. Both companies make quality meters and both are well represented in the Twin Cities with various styles of meter systems. Staff feels comfortable with both vendors. Both have had meters in the City in the past. Badger has the majority of the meters in the City currently.