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Residents urge opt‑out and health review for proposed ‘smart’ water meters; commission delays consent purchase
Summary
Public commenters expressed health, privacy and billing concerns about proposed smart meters. City staff said the purchase order covers 250 of ~4,000 accounts and will return with more information and an opt‑out feasibility report; the commission delayed action on the consent item.
Several residents at Tuesday’s Livingston City Commission meeting urged the commission to delay a planned purchase of new two‑way “smart” water meters, citing health, privacy, battery disposal and billing concerns. Commissioners agreed to hold the consent item for staff to report back on technical details and opt‑out options.
Public commenters described symptoms they attributed to radio‑frequency exposure and cited studies and activist groups. Linda Marr said she was “concerned that you’re opening yourselves up for lawsuits” if the city moves ahead without further review. Anne Fuller said she would “refuse to have a smart meter put on my house.” Arlene Romer DeFeltreya cited municipal reporting of misread meters and called for more information on batteries and electrical harmonics.
City Manager Mister Gager told the commission the city is replacing aging metering infrastructure and that the current purchase order covers 250 meters as a start of a multi‑year program covering roughly 4,000 utility accounts. He described the technology as industry standard and said staff “would be happy to… investigate an opt‑out program” if the commission wants staff to do so.
Following public comment and discussion, commissioners agreed not to act on consent item E at Tuesday’s meeting and asked staff to return with a report that addresses public concerns, including options for an opt‑out program, battery type and replacement plans, and any liability or billing issues tied to AMI deployments.
Commissioners also asked staff to contact the Montana Department of Transportation about residents’ complaints regarding heavy‑vehicle jake brakes on Highway 89 near Park Street; city staff said that segment of right‑of‑way is managed by MDT and said the city would write a letter to MDT about signage and enforcement.
No formal purchase was completed for the meters at Tuesday’s meeting; the purchase order and consent item will return to the commission with the requested information.
