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Town installs meter transmitters; staff investigating frequent pump cycling and high winter power bills
Summary
Kanarraville staff said radio transmitters for meters have been installed and will be tested; the board also heard that a municipal pump ran dozens of cycles in winter months, producing an unexpectedly large electric bill that staff will investigate with contractors.
Town staff reported that most radio transmitters for water meters have been installed and that user training and a functional test remain to complete the meter-billing setup.
The board also discussed elevated electric costs related to one of the town's pumps. Staff said the pump cycled 4954 times in December, generating several hundred kilowatt-hours for that month and a corresponding bill that was unusually high for winter months. Meeting comments indicated December usage produced about 340 kWh tied to the pump start-ups and another month had about 240 kWh; staff described the December electric charge as around $1,200 for that month and said the town's typical winter pump cost should be much lower.
Board members said a control or electronics glitch may be causing frequent starts and called for contractor assistance to diagnose whether a control relay, level sensor or other device is faulty. Staff said they would work with contractor Keith Christiansen and with public works staff (John) to run tests, check settings and determine whether the pump or its controls should be repaired or replaced to avoid repeated starts and high peak charges.
Separately, staff demonstrated a financial spreadsheet the town is using to model water-rate scenarios and impact fees; staff invited board members to test different base rates, tier levels and expense assumptions and said the town aims to propose a water-rate ordinance and an impact-fee change at the next meetings.
