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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 10, 2005 Page 7 He said he talked to Met Council and they didn't feel that the City's goal was exceeded enough to be fined. Councilmember Thuesen inquired whether there are any figures of illegal hookups or of those that had the buried program discovered at the Point -of -Sale. Mr. Hubmer said that it was thought that 70 percent of homes in 1997 had the driveway drains, and it was required that sump pumps be put in. 9 Councilmember Thuesen asked if the Met Council acknowledged communities that attempt to 10 deal with the problem and if they are granted a little slack. Mr. Hubmer answered that St. 11 Anthony was ahead of the curve. He added that the Met Council may have some grant monies 12 available. 13 14 Mayor Faust commented that the City is waiting for the Met Council flow rate so the City can 15 determine where it is. He reiterated that there is an Ordinance that states hook ups are illegal. 16 He noted that there are residents that cannot afford to unhook at the cost of $2,000 to $5,000 and 17 are there any figures of how many illegal hookups? 18 19 5. Automatic Water Meter Reading. 20 Mr. Hubmer stated the City is currently evaluating various remote water meter readers. 21 22 Mayor Faust said explained that the system currently is that residents fill out a card and mail it 23 into City Hall and a City bill is generated. There is the potential for error on both ends. 24 Automatic water meter reading will preclude the potential for error. 25 26 Mr. Hubmer explained there are four steps in the process of generating a water bill. In the 27 automatic system, a device is in the car and the Village could be covered in a few hours. This 28 information is downloaded into a computer system and a bill is automatically generated. The 29 City is evaluating the various wireless water meter readers. He indicated his office has estimated 30 the cost to install a wireless system for 2155 meters. He reviewed the potential benefits of a 31 wireless system, including the improvement in the accuracy of readings. There are fewer 32 employee hours, and lost water will be recovered. The meters are 20 years old and getting 33 toward the end of their life cycle. He said his department is discussing the option of viewing the 34 process in a city that has already been through the conversion. 35 36 Councilmember Thuesen asked if the quality or the technology of meters has improved in recent 37 years. Mr. Hubmer responded that they work very well. They have not changed very much. 38 The wireless technology is the cutting edge and does save effort. There is the technology that 39 this could be used on existing meters. Cities that have tried it, suggested replacing all meters in 40 the city. 41 42 6. St. Anthony Fire Station Flashing Beacon Justification. 43 Mr. Hubmer stated that ways to improve the visibility of the Fire Station have been discussed. 44 He said his department looked at installing remote - operated warning lights. The signs are being 45 considered for the Silver Lake Road site. He proposed that a remote such as a garage door 46 opener inside the trucks would be more feasible. He said they looked at a wired system, and this 47 would require tunneling under the road and would be more expensive. He said the anticipated