Agenda Packets - 1995/09/11 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

UNAPPROVED Page 9 August 21, 1995 1 water system is changed? 2 3 Mr. Linke explained that the only cost to the resident would be the$3.00 utility charge. 4 If the city chooses to select the touch read system, there will be no additional charge. 5 Mr. Ulrich stated the city will expect to save approximately$1,000,000 over the 20 year 6 period if they replace the meters. 7 8 Ms. Harrer asked if she will get her meter deposit back when the system is changed over. • 11 _ . . - . .-a a, .- •ilLrefund_thnse who paid for their m .t .rs if a new meter 10 must be installed. 11 12 Carl Anderson, 2948 Wooddale Drive, stated figuring the loss of$31,500 per year and 13 spending $800,000 for Option#1 it would take 26 years to recoup the cost. Option#2 14 would take 16 years to recoup the costs. Neither of these options provides for repayment 15 of the $300,000 WAC fund. He would like to suggest Option#4, which would include 16 changing all commercial meters to the radio read out with a quarterly reading, beginning 17 residential change overs to meters which are over 20 years old and offering a touch pad 18 system for whose who do not want their meters read annually. This option would allow 19 a phase in of the new system without a project loan. 20 21 Mr. Ulrich noted that the system is deteriorating and it will continue to do so. The figure 22 of$31,500 will continue to increase. 23 24 In regard to meter deposits, Mr. Don Brager, Finance Director offered the following. He 25 stated the city has a record of those people who paid for the water meters and the dollar 26 amount. The practice of having one pay for their own meter ceased in the 1980's. The 27 city has attempted to get more new meters in by asking that when property is sold a new 28 meter must be installed by the new owner of the property. Gradually the fund has been 29 shrinking as the properties change hands, etc., However,there are still a number of 30 deposits which will need to be refunded. 31 32 Duane McCarty, 8060 Long Lake Road, stated if the entire system is replaced with 33 Option#1, what will be the next step be in providing for long term approach. 34 35 Mayor Linke responded that the city has already considered this, which is part of what the 36 $3.00 additional utility charge will be applied to. Mr. Ulrich noted that the $3.00 charge 37 is not going to stop once the meter is paid for. 38 39 Mr. McCarty asked what it would cost to start a long term plan now, keeping the existing 40 system and replacing those that need to be replaced only as needed. This would be a 41 100% approach. He wondered how much it would cost over a 15 year period to look at 42 an option such as this. He stated he feels there should be an in-depth study on the new