2024-02-25 PWETC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

to split the cost between water and sewer funds. He suggested additional funds to the CIP for the Mueller system, estimating a need for at least $380,000 by 2029. Mr. Freihammer emphasized the importance of minimizing the impact on residents, noting that replacing radios and meters at once would be less disruptive than doing it in multiple visits. He explained staff time would be saved by upgrading meters now, as newer technology was more accurate and required less maintenance. He noted the Mueller system also included an annual fee for maintaining the collectors, which would be a new cost but would reduce the burden on City staff. Member Fergus raised concerns about the new system's reliability and failure rate, comparing it to the current 450 and 900 systems. Mr. Freihammer reassured the Commission that other cities used the Mueller system, which was more reliable due to its two-way communication and broader application. Member Rudolf questioned the due diligence on the Mueller system's reliability and the potential for hacking. Mr. Freihammer responded that the system was already used in other industries and more secure than the current one. The Commission discussed the potential costs to residents and the need for a detailed plan to manage the transition and minimize disruption. Chair Ficek supported the staff recommendation to use the Mueller system and replace radios and meters simultaneously to minimize future disruptions. Member Ficek moved, and Member Rudolf seconded, to accept the staffs recommendation to purchase the Mueller system and replace both radios and meters at the same time. Ayes: 5 Nays: 1 Abstain: 1 (Fergus) Motion carried. 7. Future Agenda Items Discussion ensued regarding future PWETC agenda items: March 18, 2025 • Pavement Asset Management Future Topics: • Pathway Master Plan Updates • Municipal Safety Plan Page 5 of 6