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TO: Mayor Peterson and Council Members <br /> �� G <br /> FROM: Ron Moorse, City Administrator �' <br /> ./ <br /> DATE: April 5, 2006 �` <br /> SUBJECT: New Radio Read Water Meter System <br /> Approximately two years ago,the City purchased a radio-read system for water meter <br /> reading from Badger as part of initiating the ability to remotely read water meters. <br /> This included software, a remote water meter reader, and an initial supply of water <br /> meters equipped with radio-read heads. The system that was purchased was selected <br /> to be compatible with the City of Wayzata, which was the first City adjacent to <br /> Orono to move toward a radio-read system. To date,the City has installed about 200 <br /> of the radio-read water meters. <br /> Recently,as part of working with the Orono Schools regarding the upgrading of their <br /> water meters, we used a consultant who has worked with the Neptune radio read <br /> system that has more capabilities and has a substantially more powerful hand-held <br /> reader than our current system. The reader is powerful enough to provide readings <br /> from a greater distance,i.e.from a pick-up on the street rather than walking up to the <br /> house. The system also can provide more information that can be used to diagnose <br /> water usage problems. <br /> Based on the information from the consultant, and additional information obtained <br /> from the system vendor,we have determined that,because we are early in the process <br /> of the change-over to the radio-read water meters, the benefits of the new system <br /> merit changing to the new system. This involves purchasing the new hand-held <br /> meter reader and related software, and purchasing a supply of water meters with the <br /> new heads. The cost of purchasing a new hand-held meter, new software, and <br /> training is $8,937.50. The new water meters cost $187.50 per meter. This is very <br /> similar to the cost of the Badger radio-read meters. <br /> The City currently has an inventory of 150 Badger radio-read water meters that were <br /> planned for installation in the neighborhood south of County Road 15 and West of <br /> County Road 19. These meters will be returned to Badger,and we will replace them <br /> with Neptune meters. <br /> The existing installed Badger radio-read meters can be retrofitted with Neptune heads <br /> at a cost of$90.00 each. The Badger meters will be retrofitted over time,as we have <br /> an opportunity to get into the homes. <br />