Apache Junction Water District approves purchase of 400 meter boxes, sets budget schedule and highlights April water festival

The Apache Junction Water District board approved the purchase of 400 meter boxes from Ferguson Waterworks in an amount not to exceed $106,000 during its April 15 meeting. The purchase supports a meter-radio installation program funded through a WIFA grant; staff said the district will replace meter boxes at the same time it installs new radio equipment on water meters.

Mike, district director, described the boxes as 18-by-18 concrete polymer units that protect meters and radios and allow staff access for turn-on/turn-off operations. He told the board the boxes cost roughly $250 each; purchasing 400 boxes represents about 10% of the district’s total boxes and targets only the boxes that need replacement as crews perform radio installs. “We’re requesting $106,000 to purchase 400 meter boxes to start this replacement process as we install these radios,” Mike said on the record. The motion to purchase up to 400 boxes from Ferguson Waterworks passed unanimously on roll-call vote.

The board also approved a schedule for FY2025–26 budget work sessions and adoption: a special budget work session on May 6, 2025, at 6 p.m.; a tentative budget public hearing on May 20, 2025, at 6 p.m.; and a final budget public hearing and adoption on June 17, 2025, at 6 p.m. All hearings will be held at Apache Junction City Council Chambers, 300 E. Superstition Station Blvd.

District Director Mike also briefed the board on the Apache Junction Water Festival scheduled for April 24 at Prospector Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., which staff expect will host roughly 200 fourth-grade students and about 50 volunteers. The festival — described as an educational outreach on water supply, conservation, and the watershed — is sponsored in part by the University of Arizona according to remarks at the meeting.

Clarification about the procurement amount: the recorded discussion contains an inconsistent numeric phrase later in the presentation in which the speaker appears to say "$1,066,000." The board motion and the speaker’s initial statement both identify the requested amount as $106,000; the article reports the approved motion amount as “not to exceed $106,000” and notes the transcript contains the later, inconsistent utterance. The minutes or purchase order documentation should be consulted for the definitive contracting amount.

Why it matters: the purchase supports a federally/state-funded meter radio installation program intended to improve meter reading and operational efficiency; the budget schedule sets the public process for the district’s FY2025–26 rates and appropriations.

Next steps: procurement will proceed pursuant to the approved not-to-exceed amount; staff will present budget materials at the May 6 work session and public hearings on May 20 and June 17.