08-28-1995 missing pages 2-5 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council . Regular Meeting -August 28, 1995 7 Program for that amount, institute a quarterly meter charge on all meters based on Option #1, authorize meter reading charge of $15.00, for optional radio read, authorize $50.00 reading charge for any resident failing to allow the meter change out, and to authorize the Director of Public Works to sign all change orders up to two percent (2%) of the projected project cost, to be funded from the WAC fund. Ms. Hankner stated she feels by investing in this particular system the city will not be in a situation of upgrading it in the near future as they would if they were to go with Option #2. The financing has been worked out and this is the most cost effective route of the options before the council. Ms. Trade stated she disagrees with Ms. Hankner's view that Option #1 is the most cost- effective system. Tt costs 40% more than the next alternative. She has a hard time justifying charging each resident an additional $3.00 per quarter for an indefinite period of time. She stated it is difficult to buy a system that has a useful life of about 25 years and it takes almost that amount of time to pay it off. The second option is not something that needs to be upgraded. Mounds View is ideally set up for touch read system as the houses are located close together. The communities that have gone to a phone read system have done it out of necessity. Their homes are one to five acre lots. At this time, Ms. Trade stated she cannot justify going to anything more than the touch read system which meets the needs of the staff, city council and residents. Mayor Linke stated the system will be paid for in twelve years, not 25 years as stated by Ms. Trade. He would like to express his support of Ms. Hankner's motion. He feels that for the city residents and staff, Option #1 is the best way to go. Mr. Quick asked Mr. Brager, Finance Director, how much he pays for system repair/replacement as a resident of the City of New Brighton. Mr. Brager noted that this is based upon the water consumption each quarter. Assuming it is 21,000 gallons per quarter, he would pay $9.00 for sewer and $8.50 for water each quarter. This is in addition to the water charge. Mr. Quick noted that Mounds View is proposing only a $3.00 charge per quarter and of this $.32 will go into a fund for future repairs. Ms. Hankner noted that the City Council cannot commit future councils to that $3.00 charge. The council is only committing it for the time frame under this financing plan. •