[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6334233,"mediaKeyId","2297633-bb5751a0d8bc4733bbbd040597732672","parentId",2297633,"title","CB3 pitches smart meters to San Juan, projects hundreds of thousands in annual savings","audioSeconds",682,"startMs",1340000,"endMs",2022000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2297633-bb5751a0d8bc4733bbbd040597732672&start=1340&end=2022","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2297633-bb5751a0d8bc4733bbbd040597732672/thumbnail_1340000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6334233/San-Juan/Hidalgo-County/Texas/CB3-pitches-smart-meters-to-San-Juan-projects-hundreds-of-thousands-in-annual-savings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334233-f7affb82cc761690d67beaef92c70502/orig.mp4?Expires=1776699540&Signature=G-3uhj6y3pYwpEofvxsYb6d9BG1ZN~umIev-s7bJdQeQVvY72T3JWdqrDWBOY-rvdrqXIRQSCUC4UceAzuA7cS19k-~xdckT1Ol-aUCtVhki0ARMyFsX1u9DYy4yLcQeLU~1qjQ4UKX-zQcJKOpmtADfmwfwVDfQHfpLque-ucQMb7kVImMWjRmDxSUX-H5izZxrLcXXt7q9VqIDuGdIqtD-CDgk4Q3fQVgR-4M50v-y2Xq9ixyUifd0thJEte53WCwp22Mvuj0E3x5vezPQPWiVplt-xnW0vt~2xr-2240TegyzJlGRSI~0gbVPzr~Y~6ePjFny9Ucma3d5DuauCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of San Juan TX","date","2025-02-12T19:29:34Z","article","CB3 representatives presented a turnkey smart meter and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) proposal to the San Juan commission, saying the project would replace or provision approximately 7,221 water meters for existing customers and anticipated development.

Steven Cruz, who identified himself as a CB3 representative, summarized software features, local warranty and support plans and estimated the first-year revenue recovery from detected water losses. “If we were just going with the bare minimum … you’re looking at a savings of $545,000 a year,” Cruz said, describing a conservative five percent recovery. At an eight percent recovery scenario he cited a potential annual benefit of about $728,000.

CB3 recommended Mueller-brand meters after an analysis the company conducted for the city, but Cruz emphasized the company is not tied to one vendor: “We are not sold to any particular brand,” he said. Cruz said CB3 provides a 10-year performance and installation warranty supported by local manufacturer partners and promised unlimited local staff training at no additional cost.

On financing, Cruz described three options the company discussed with staff: (1) CB3’s financing spread up to 10 years; (2) use of language in the city’s energy contract to finance the project at a very low rate; and (3) direct financing through government capital programs. Cruz said CB3 would work with the city’s finance director to choose the best method. He also offered to pay an outstanding fee previously owed to another vendor—an amount he described in discussion as “a hundred and something thousand” dollars and later referenced as about $135,000—if San Juan selected CB3’s proposal.

Commissioners and staff asked technical questions about software upgrades, integration with the city’s billing provider, testing approaches and warranty scope. Cruz said all future software upgrades are included in the package and that CB3 would perform an integration with the billing provider at no additional cost. He said installation and manufacturer warranties would cover meters and that all labor would be hired locally.

The commission did not vote on the proposal during the meeting; staff were asked to continue vetting the project details and financing options. Commissioners requested additional documentation about warranties, upgrade rights and the city’s integration needs before any contract or financing commitment.

If pursued, the project would move the city from manual meter reading to continuous AMI monitoring, providing leak alerts, distribution and system-health analytics and more timely consumption data for the public utilities department.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of San Juan Commission Meeting, February 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","CB3 representatives presented a turnkey smart-meter proposal to San Juan, saying the plan would cover about 7,221 meters and could recover an estimated $545,000–$728,000 a year in underbilled water and sewer revenue.","taxTitle","San Juan, Hidalgo County, Texas","taxId",53132,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6334237,"Commission presses Vexus Fiber over two-year communication gap, seeks clearer permits and repair process",306,551000,857000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2297633-bb5751a0d8bc4733bbbd040597732672&start=551&end=857","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2297633-bb5751a0d8bc4733bbbd040597732672/thumbnail_551000.jpg","/articles/6334237/San-Juan/Hidalgo-County/Texas/Commission-presses-Vexus-Fiber-over-two-year-communication-gap-seeks-clearer-permits-and-repair-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334237-0a75a3eff56d8406f2bb896eb75fa956/orig.mp4?Expires=1776699540&Signature=ekDd0DYgia1t0xjKAMhHNhZ1eB3x3Idk9Lqf7~zsUCQ9d6ztxwqrD3aPbvyGItv6zRsjEdBh6VxegN4qGDKBwhj3BQgwQGG97PRIHOm7pr-NFohdeWAoMR6~M2PU2t5cOh3DO9SFhtA~lq80oyZJu9X9lmPL5VKb05JPBBc4WylUhnXOIyFmPWPN~hGIVbdvsTcrC5hUXYiuESTCn5c88IFezMM-988tZiBzNYhMgmFStb4GjoGyi8Ut4OlmfFpJytpbM5kB3nIhJ0nU2ck6Qu2FS2XVs-WS4NULiP1GhDBryaoRC-wyM1RP22T5VNaRkwQ5u5SRhqpah5NNHe92aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Juan commissioners pressed representatives of Vexus Fiber on questions about when the company first contacted the city, what city staff were included in early discussions and how the company will address reported property and street damage from fiber work that began in 2022.

The discussion came after Brian Borthwick, identified as director of city relations for Vexus Fiber, and John Furie, senior director of construction, briefed the commission on the company’s operations and pledged cooperation. “I apologize if we did not communicate correctly,” Borthwick told the commission, adding, “we’ll do a better job of communicating to you. That’s my commitment.”

Commissioners said they had no record of formal notice or commission-level briefings before construction began and reported that residents called city hall about damaged pipes and street repairs. Commissioners asked whether Vexus obtained city permits or only relied on state right-of-way authority; Borthwick said the company is registered with the state for rights-of-way and utility easements and that his team normally meets the city manager and related departments during project planning. He said he did not have the names of city contacts from the company’s initial outreach because earlier company staff who handled that work were no longer with Vexus.

Borthwick described Vexus’s customer-notification protocol and service commitments: the company aims to assess reported problems within 24 hours and then develop a plan to address them. He said Vexus sends a letter 35 days before work in an area, a postcard about 25 days out and a door hanger between seven and 14 days before activity; the company also provides a website and a phone number for resident reports. “Once we’re notified, we try to assess the situation within 24 hours, and then come up with a plan to address those,” he said.

Commissioners asked whether permits had been filed with the city and whether patching and street restoration were tracked; one commissioner said he still could not find records of any permits and has been seeking answers for months. Vexus said most current construction in the market is on major thoroughfares and tower projects rather than residential neighborhoods and that the company had recently enhanced tracking systems for resident complaints.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the topic but asked Vexus to return with more documentation about prior city contacts, any permits or filings, and a local point of contact for residents and the city. Commissioners also urged Vexus to provide materials the city could repost on official channels so residents would know whom to call when work is underway.

The exchange underscores lingering concerns among commissioners about outside utilities working in San Juan rights-of-way without sustained, city-level notification before work began. The commission requested follow-up from Vexus on outstanding resident reports and on what permits or notifications were filed in 2022.","City commissioners pressed Vexus Fiber representatives about a lack of advance notice, unclear permit records and reported street and private-property damage from fiber work that began two years earlier; the company promised improved city and resident communications and a 24-hour initial response to repair reports.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6334228,"San Juan commission approves rezoning, selects local contractor for wastewater contract and clears several administrative items",605,3175000,3780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2297633-bb5751a0d8bc4733bbbd040597732672&start=3175&end=3780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2297633-bb5751a0d8bc4733bbbd040597732672/thumbnail_3175000.jpg","/articles/6334228/San-Juan/Hidalgo-County/Texas/San-Juan-commission-approves-rezoning-selects-local-contractor-for-wastewater-contract-and-clears-several-administrative-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334228-688bef92296a518b603e6f886079f7d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776699540&Signature=Ug~AglAlLu533AVq0fl66WC5Ls3RA5On6bGazluYTIMBrkegUJY8xOj3J2BdulOHn7pmwtxbpGQuiKM9G6k7YN86Ay0QWv89IW5-tmoUFzYTBIPjcMaKBPo4gwCeAOf4MsUe9lGIiXyHS5JYVB~zYyIuQjMf-Rbb9HjL2Gfpl57TdavRfipx16TWxWlh84lsu02Mb2Q3Imkv9phn6b39DcYNkR5N-V~eAzAcVfEOfk-WXDBgsfhKywUlv8vCm-AazWoOs2IqYcvJJOWZ4L2E6bI13UOfPZyECGsPtK0~r-E1QHsVGTNxGfZ6Oal3TSLTv9b4Uhlsu0t0nrlXXAs-pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Juan City Commission voted on several agenda items, including land-use approvals, an equipment auction, appointments and an award of a wastewater treatment contract.

Land use and appointments: Planning director Jorge Garcia presented a rezoning request for a five-acre tract partly inside the city. Staff recommended approval; the commission closed the public hearing and approved the request by voice vote. The commission also appointed a representative and alternate to the board of directors for Amigos del Valle after noting the city manager’s departure.

Water treatment contract: Cruz Hogan Consultants presented results of a competitive procurement for wastewater treatment plant improvements funded through the Texas Water Development Board CWSRF program. The engineer recommended awarding the project to the lowest responsible bidder, RP Constructors, based on proposal reviews and the company’s local project history. Orlando Cruz of Cruz Hogan noted RP Constructors’ experience, including prior work for the city and dozens of Valley projects.

Despite the engineering recommendation, a commissioner moved to award the wastewater treatment plant improvements contract to Go Underground LLC, citing a preference for a local contractor with an on-the-ground presence. The motion passed by voice vote. The resolution language in the agenda cited project and procurement references including RFP number 2050031218 and CWSRF project numbers as presented; the action authorized the interim city manager to execute associated documents for the contract in the amount of $8,426,000.

Other approvals: The commission authorized the surplus-vehicle auction for March 1, 2025, approving staff’s recommendation to dispose of 32 vehicles at auction because of high maintenance costs. The commission approved a request from the Hidalgo County Elections Department to use the San Juan Memorial Library for early voting and election day locations in the May and November 2025 cycles. The commission also approved a resolution supporting a University of Texas Rio Grande Valley / Harriet Tubman Education Center walking route that will pass through San Juan as part of a multi-day “walk to freedom” application to the Texas Department of Transportation; the commission approved the resolution and staff will submit the required application to TxDOT.

Consent items and executive session: The consent agenda was approved by voice vote. The commission entered executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters and returned with motions recorded on the public record for matters discussed in executive session; the meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.","At the meeting the commission approved a zoning change, appointed a representative to Amigos del Valle, authorized an auction of surplus vehicles, approved use of the library for county elections, and—contrary to the engineer’s recommendation—awarded a wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation contract to Go Underground LLC for $8,426,000.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

CB3 pitches smart meters to San Juan, projects hundreds of thousands in annual savings

Commission presses Vexus Fiber over two-year communication gap, seeks clearer permits and repair process

San Juan commission approves rezoning, selects local contractor for wastewater contract and clears several administrative items