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<br />e <br /> <br />CITY OF ARDEN HILLS <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />November 7, 2000 <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Joe Lynch, City Administrator <br />---1b DC <br />Terry Post, City Acconntant I r :f J <br />Dwayne Stafford, Pnblic Works Director <br /> <br />~. <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: .. Water Meter Upgrade/Replacement Project <br /> <br />Backl!round <br />The City Council authorized the Public Works Department to take the necessary steps to <br />replace all the City's residential water meters, 10 years of age or older, with new radio <br />read meters. Newer meters would be retrofitted with radio read transmitter heads only. <br />The commercial/industrial water meters were replaced or upgraded two years ago. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Proicct U Ddate <br />Hydro Supply ofBurnsville, Minnesota was awarded the project, which ineluded <br />furnishing and installing the new meters or upgrades to approximately 2350 residences. <br />The majority of homes have been completed, with about 160 still remaining to be done. <br /> <br />The meter installation subcontractor (USI), unsuccessfully attempted to contact the <br />remaining 160 residents by a series of three mailings, door knocks and phone calls for <br />scheduling. Under the City Utility Ordinance Section 28-71, authorized City employees <br />have the right of free access to the meters during normal hours for meter reading or <br />inspection. The ordinance docs not specifically state, for maintenance or replacement. <br />City Attorney, Jerry Filla, is of the opinion that meter replacement or upgrades would be <br />covered under thc ordinance. <br /> <br />Policv Options <br />The City Accountant and the Public Works Director have proposed three policy options <br />for Council consideration, to encourage the remaining residents to finally schedule the <br />replacement/upgrade of their water meters, Those options are: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />1. Shut off the water. Attorney Filla feels the City has this right according to the <br />current ordinance, as access to the meter has not been provided. <br />2. Estimate future water bills. Attorney Filla is comfortable with this option, but <br />feels the City Council may wish to adopt a resolution to this affect, as existing <br />ordinances are not directed to this situation. <br />3. Add a $1 00 surcharge to each quarterly bill for manually reading the meter. <br />This is what the City of New Hope recently did to reduce the number of <br />services with ohsolete equipment. Attorney Filla feels a resolution would <br />also be necessary in this situation. <br />