09-17-12-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION— SEPTEMBER 17, 2012 3 Consensus among the Council was for the draft Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Policy to be brought to the next regular meeting of the City Council for approval. Additionally, the Council would like to proceed with upgrading the seven remaining lift stations to the Omni Site system. B. Water Meter Reader Installation Update Public Works Director Maurer provided the Council with an update on the water meter reader installations. He noted that the program went well, and of the 2,685 meters that needed to be changed, all but 40 residential units (plus 11 vacant units) have been completed. The remaining properties have not responded to two mailings, door knocks, and door hangers. He noted that the second mailing told property owners that the old technology was no longer usable and without the new reader installed, their future water bills would be estimated. Public Works Director Maurer noted that there are basically three options available for the remaining residential properties that need the new meter. The first option is to send a certified letter stating that if a new water meter reader is not installed by a certain date, the property's water would be shut off until the reader is installed. The second option is to send a letter indicating that a surcharge would be added to the quarterly water bill starting the fourth quarter of 2012 and will continue until a new reader is installed. Staff suggested a $100 surcharge as a means of getting the property owner's attention. The third option would be to do nothing but continue with estimated quarterly water billing. Councilmember Tamble stated that the third option of doing nothing and continuing with estimated water billing is a paperwork nightmare. He suggested that a more firm approach be taken. Councilmember Holmes suggested that the property owners be called rather than sending a certified letter informing them of water shut-offs if the new meter is not installed. Public Works Director Maurer stated that he could have the on-call Public Works employee knock on doors when he is out checking lift stations. Councilmember Holmes stated that she liked that idea. She said that the City should wait about six months before further action is taken. She stated that people may not intentionally be ignoring the request to install the new meter, but because people are busy, it is something that might slip their minds. She also has concern that some people are renters and they might not be aware of the need to install a new meter. Public Works Director Maurer stated that the letters went to the property owners on file. Mayor Grant agreed that people should be given a couple of months, but that we do need to get their attention on this matter. Public Works Director Maurer noted that doors were knocked on when Midwest Testing was doing the installation. He also noted that we do not want to shut people's water off when the weather gets colder because we do not want pipes to freeze.