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Item No. 3C <br />Meeting Date: August 6, 2007 <br />Type of Business: WK <br />WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing; <br />CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business <br />City Administrator Review _______ <br /> City of Mounds View Staff Report <br /> <br />To: Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From: Michael Schnur, Lead Utility Operator <br /> <br />Item Title/Subject: Water Meter Reading System Replacement <br />Proposal - Review Options <br /> <br /> <br />Background: <br />The current meter reading system was installed between the fall of 1995 and the <br />spring of 1996. This involved replacing the meters, and installing an automated <br />meter reading system. The meter reading system was comprised of two different <br />types of readers. The first and most common installation was the MIU / Phone <br />Reader, which once every three months makes a call to the City with the current <br />meter reading. The Second was a MXU / Radio Reader, which once every three <br />months the City would drive by each house and get a current meter reading. The <br />MIU / Phone Readers were installed as the standard reading units. Only in cases <br />where an MIU / Phone Reader could not be installed was a MXU / Radio Reader <br />installed. There were approximately 300 MXU / Radio Readers installed. This <br />project was contracted and installed by Water Pro, for a total price of <br />approximately $830,000. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br />The meters themselves have been very reliable and accurate. The only problem <br />the City has encountered with the meters is a noise emanating from the chamber <br />(working /moving part of the meter) on higher volume using houses. This was <br />typical on some homes with irrigation systems. Correcting this is an easy and <br />inexpensive repair. It is done by either changing to a bigger meter, or replacing the <br />chamber. <br /> <br />The MXU / Radio Read devices have operated very reliably in the past. The only <br />issue encountered was a mass failure of the batteries with in these units. However <br />this issues was expected and has since been addressed. The replacement of <br />batteries with in these units should not be an issue for another 4-5 years. <br /> <br />The MIU / Phone Read system, however, has posed ongoing maintenance issues <br />from the initial installation. While these issues have been manageable in the past, <br />it has become a large problem in the last four quarters.