Agenda Packets - 1995/09/11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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UNAPPROVED Page 8 August 21, 1995 1 2 Linda Hansome, 2237 Knoll Drive, stated as she understands the two reasons for 3 updating the meters are the accuracy issue and the meter reader problem. Furthermore, 4 the accuracy rate for residential properties was averaged at 98% and she understands that 5 the new meters will be guaranteed an accuracy rate of 98% for ten years; this is basically 6 a "washout". She feels that spending the money for a"state of the art" system is not the 7 way she would like her money spent. The touch pad system will serve the purpose of 8 reading the meters and will save the city$300,000 over the phone read system. 9 10 Inga Kelner, 8333 Groveland Road stated she has been a reader meter for several years. 11 She too has run into problems with some residents who will not let her in to read the 12 meter. These are the people that the city should be working on, requiring them to have 13 the remote meters. She feels the meters that are working should be left alone. 14 15 Dave Malrick, 8289 Spring Lake Park Road, stated by overcharging residents it will 16 encourage them to let the meters be read. He stated he would tend to be more concerned 17 about checking the volume of the water than the actual meters. He felt the commercial la properties should be looked at closer as the city could recoup more of the money by 19 attempting to increase the accuracy level for commercial properties to the 98% level. 20 21 Mr. Ulrich noted that the total billing amount for water was 470,000,000. Of this 22 amount, only 67,000,000 gallons were used by institutions, commercial and industrial. 23 The residents represent 80% of the total usage. He quickly noted some of the test results 24 of meters that were installed between 1962 and 1984. 25 26 Mr. Malrick stated the 30 homes of the 2,900 that could be tested represents only 1% of 27 the homes in Mounds View. He felt the city should do more evaluating before they look 28 at spending the money for the new meters. The city should attempt to recoup the most 29 money in a way that disrupts the least number of people. He also asked if a touch tone 30 phone will be necessary for the phone read system. Mr. Ulrich responded that a resident 31 only needs a phone line. 32 33 Keith Vasilakes, 5131 Greenwood Drive, stated he felt Option#1 was basically spending 34 $800,000 to correct a$30,000 problem. He would rather be charged an additional five 35 cents on his water bill. He sees no reason for the phone or radio system as he does not 36 feel the city needs a state of the art system. Additionally he did not feel two proposals for 37 a$800,000 system were a sufficient representation and additional bids should be 38 received. 39 40 Kathleen Harrer, 5230 Edgewood Drive, asked if the city anticipates that the $31,000 loss 41 each year will continue to increase. She is also concerned about her "out of the pocket" 42 costs for the new system. How much will the city save over a 20 year period if the