02/22/1999 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY ' ;:fir OF IN KE Lino Lakes Public Services Department 7204 Lake Drive Lino Lakes, MN 55014 (651) 780 -1885 Fax (651) 784 -7227 BENEFITS OF AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEM Delays Need To Hire Additional Staff— Would delay need to hire another staff person by as much as 7 years. Also, allows staff to work on other necessary projects such as preventative maintenance that is not currently being done due to time constraints. Reduces Liability — Since staff would no longer need to walk the entire city 4 times per year, liability exposure is dramatically reduced (injuries due to falls, dog bites, risk of harassment/assault from property owners). Better Customer Service — Better equipped to resolve bill discrepancies. Meter reading can be done within minutes of customer complaints or inquiries. Final readings would no longer need site visit. Final readings can be done on the date and time that the customer requests by accessing the information from city hall. Turn around time from read to bill is also improved. Possibility of human error reduced. Inspect Existing Water Meters — Installation of MIU's will allow us to inspect all existing meters which will eliminate need for separate inspection for change -out program. Water meter accuracy decreases over time due to wear. Inaccurate meters record less flow than is actually occurring which results in the city losing water revenue. Accurate meter readings allow for better reporting and tracking of water use. Increasing the accuracy of water meter readings will also reduce the amount of unaccounted water which is a consideration when applying for water appropriations permits with the DNR. Potential Revenue Source — Possible to read meters for Circle Pines Gas. This arrangement could also decrease installation costs by 50% for the 961 homes in Lino Lakes that are serviced by Circle Pines Gas. Sump Pump Inspections — Installation of MIU's would allow us to conduct sump pump inspections at a minimal cost ($5 per home). This will save the city tens of thousands of dollars annually and allow us to account for current unaccounted water which is a factor when applying for appropriations permits with the DNR. Unnecessary I and I also puts excessive wear on lift station components such as pumps and starters. Monitors Unusual Readings — The Phone Read system red flags unusual readings which may be a result of tampering or leaks. 2/17/99 4:55 PM RD/Utilities/Phone Read/Adva of Phone Read