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Page 7 <br />August 21, 1995 <br />2) Changeout of residential accounts to a touch read and commercial accounts to a phone <br />read system, costing a total of $505,914. This would be funded through the Water <br />Availability Charge and a loan from the Special Project fund. There would be no <br />additional charge added to the utility charge. <br />3) Do nothing to the water meter system. The city staffwould continue to change meters <br />when they no longer function. The city would continue to lose approximately $31,000 per <br />year. <br />Council member Trude explained the option of a radio read unit for homeowners who <br />have a finished basement and whose meter and phone line are not located in close <br />proximity to one another. This would cost the homeowner an additional $25.00. <br />Mayor Linke explained that it is possible that a homeowner who refused to convert to the <br />new system would be charged a surcharge of up to $50.00/quarter for the added labor of <br />having their meter read. <br />Mr. Ulrich noted that the meter readers have experienced some problem with a few <br />residents who refuse to let them in to their homes to read the meters. The fully automated <br />system would eliminate this problem. <br />Jerry Blanchard, 8005 Groveland Road, stated he has a receipt which says that he will <br />receive a refund of $35.00 from the city if they take his meter. He was wondering if the <br />city has the money to refund residents for the meters. <br />Mr. Ulrich informed him that the City is aware of this and has money appropriated for this. <br />Mr. Blanchard also stated he does not have a problem putting in a new meter system if it is <br />necessary. However, a 6% to 8% error tells him that maybe the city should be testing <br />meters more often and doing something about the bad ones, not spending money to put <br />new ones in. He wondered if all of them needed to be replaced. It was his feeling that <br />the city should only replace the 15% that are reading bad. <br />Alena Baty, 2316 Hillview Road, stated for those residents who will not allow a meter <br />reader into their homes, they should be given estimates and charged anyway. <br />Mayor Linke explained that this is done, however after five years it becomes rather <br />difficult. <br />Council member Trude noted that the City has never threatened to turn off the water to <br />residences who do not allow the meters to be read. <br />