HomeMy WebLinkAbout7F, Consider Purchase of New Water Meter Readers�
EN HILLS
Request for Council Action
Prepared By: Terry Maurer, Council Meeting Date: March 28, 201 I
Public Works Director
Consider Parchase of New Water Mefer Readers
Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding �o�zrce:
$6U,000 $60,000 Water Utility Fund
Recommendation:
Authorize the expendztuxe o� up to $60,000 ta start tk�e conversion of watex meter readers to the
Badger Galaxy System.
Supportin� Docuinents:
1. Memorandutn dated March 28, 2011, from Terry Maurer, Public Works Director. .
2. CIP far Water Meter Upgrades.
�
EN HILLS
MEM4RANDUM
DATE: March 28, 201�
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers -' J
Patrick Klaers, City Ad�nniuistrator �;��'`�
. � �
FROM. Terry Mau.rer, Public Werks Director �
SUB,IECT: Coa�sider Purchase of New Water Meter Readers
Ba _ckground
The City's commercial/industrial water meters and readers were replaced in 1997/1998
and the residentiai water meters and readers were replaced in 2Q01. The �neter readers
were e�pec#ed to have a 10-11 year life which is currently at its end. The batteries are
starting to fail and �echnalagy has changed so much it is hard to g�t replacemex�t batteries
or parts. The current system is a remote reading systern whereby a Public Works staff
memb�r simply d�ves the street wiih an electronic handheld reader which remotely reads
the meters. The City system has approxima#eIy 230 comrnercial/industrial meters and
2,422 residential meters.
The Capital Improvemer�t Plarz (CIP} has an item starting in 2011 and running through
2014 to replace all meter readers (a copy of the CIP sheet is attached}. Staff wer�t
through a review process to look at sys#ems that are compatible witk� our current meters
which should have 15-20 years of life l�ft. The staff recomme�ded system is a Badger
Galaxy System ihat allows remot� reading from a camputer screen. When ihe change out
af ineter readers is complete, meters will be read from a computer in the Finance
Department. There will no longer be a need for a Public Works staff to spend 2-3 days a
month reading meters.
In the 2011 CIP ti�ere is $64,000 prograrr�ed tio begin this co�version process. With
$60,000, staff is recommending purchase af the Badgex Galaxy Fixed Network Collector
Package which consists of an antenna lacated on the water tower, computer software and
installation, technical support, ce�lu�ar backhaul (device that senc�s the meter reading
frorn t�ie antenna to the computer), and 50 meter readers. In addit�on sta£f recomrr�ends
purchase of enough comrnerciallindustrial meier readers to change out all of those in
2011 with City staf£ With the remaining funds staff would purchase approximately 50
residential meter readers. These rnrould be used to change out any failed meter readers
and/or combine sutnp pump inspections wzt� zx�eter reader change outs.
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We are proposing to replace fihe commerciallindustrial rixeter readexs using City staff as
they have direci kr�owledge of ineter locations, number of ineters in the bigger accounts,
and have established relationshi�s with personnel at our Iarger businesses in ordex to gain
acc�ss. In futUre years, staff will likely propose the use of a contractor to change out the
residential meter readers to sav� staff time while expediiing ihe conversion.
This system does have an annual fee of $2,450 for technical support, software updates,
and maintenance of th� cellular backhaul. Thi� annual fee begins the year after the initial
purchase o� the system. This annual fee will be included in fixture operating budgets for
the Water Utility.
Council Ac�ion Requested
�t zs �recommended that the City Council authorize the expenditure of up to $60,000 to
start the conversion of water inefer read�rs to #he Badger Galaxy System. The 2011
expenditure would be used for tlie Fix�d Network Collector Package,
commerciallindustrial meter readers for all 230 custamers and a f�w r�sidential meter
readers. The Director of Finance and Adminisirative Services has indicated that there are
sufficient reserves in the Watez Uti��ty Fund for the 2011 expenditure and fiiture years.
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Capita.i Improvement Plan
City of Arden Hitis, Minnesota
�fojecc # � 1-W-003
PrajecS l�ame Wa�Qr Meter Upgrades
1'ype Improvement
iJsefu! Life
Categary Utiliry fmprovements
2011 thru 2Q � 5
De�artmeat Waier Depactcnent
ConYaet Pubiic Works Director
Priority nla
De5C�1�tLOII I'otal Pro3ect Cost: $44a,000
� �'hi e Badger Water Meters need to be upgraded for ali commerciai {approximateiy 230) and residential (approximately 2,422}. "f'tie current
; systeEn is obsoleta and batteries are 6eginning to fail. �"ttere are two systems - each witi� differcnt advantages_ Staff wiii be rer+iewing each
system and presenting options to Council.
Justification
fiie cu�rent water me#er system is obsolete and ihey are not making this type of battery any longer. The current water meter bat#eries are
>eginning to Paii. Once their sfock �s out, thcre wili be no batceries avaiEahle to cep�ace_ The recommendatian wil! be to incorparate the upgrade
n a 3-4 year cycle. The estimate is based on the upfront star[ up costs and commerciat being done in the firsE year_
�xpenditures 2011 �012 2flI3 2fli4 Z015 Totat
Other 60,d0U i15,600 315,t3fl0 395,OOa 4{15,OOfl
�['p�� fiU,UUO '175,UU0 395,000 315,004 41iS,fl00
Fanding Sources 201i 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total
WaterUtilityFunds 60,006 ti5,000 135,00I3 135,000 405,DU4
Total �.�0 115,000 195,U00 195,OU6 d05,664
B�dget ImpactlQther
�-4 year implementation plan. ihe two different systems will ha�e various cost savings on stak� time. �'his will be presented with the
Produced Using !he Plan-Ct Capita! Plannrng Safhrare ii'ednesdav, t�overnber I0. 2010
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