City staff told the Dundee City Council in a special work session that replacing the city’s aging water meters is a multi‑year program and that staff will request spending approval to buy meters this fall.

The work session, convened as a non‑decision meeting, covered the status and sequencing of capital projects. Public works staff said about 180 of roughly 1,200 meters have been replaced so far, leaving the city roughly 50% complete on the initial phases of replacement.

"It looks like there's 1,200 water meters that need to replace and a 180 around, a 180 have been done, so it's roughly 50%," said Ashley, a staff member involved in the project. Chuck, public works staff, told council: "I will need spending approval for the $100,000 for meters." The mayor added a desire to order meters in time for installation over winter, asking that meters be ordered in the November–January window so crews can install them during drier weather.

Staff described the $100,000 as the budgeted annual purchase for meters (the funds buy meters but city crews plan to do the installation). Chuck said the city has already purchased most 2‑inch meters and still needs several 3‑inch meters; he estimated about 300 meters could be delivered within a month once ordered and hoped installations could occur by spring.

Council and staff discussed cash‑flow timing and whether to wait for tax revenue in November before spending; staff said they believed procurement lead times are short and ordering in early fall is feasible. Staff also noted prior spending of earlier meter budgets in past years and that the replacement program is expected to continue annually until complete.

No formal motion on meter spending was taken at the session; staff said they would bring a spending authorization request to a future council meeting.

Background: staff characterized the replacement as a multi‑year program (they estimated a four‑year horizon for full replacement), with this fiscal year’s procurement focused on meters rather than installation contracted out—installation would be handled by city crews.