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Pittsburg lays out AMI meter rollout, lead-service-line inventory and street projects
Summary
Director Matt Bacon told commissioners the city ordered 4,600 MXUs as part of a roughly $700,000 AMI bond authorization, has identified about 1,700 lead service lines (10% replacement would cost ~$177,000/year), and reviewed KDOT sidewalk and pavement projects tied to city priorities.
City staff summarized several near-term capital priorities for water distribution, meters and streets during the April 28 budget work session.
Matt Bacon, director of public works and utilities, said the commission previously approved about $700,000 for meters and the city has ordered 4,600 MXUs and 1,000 meters to advance an AMI system. "This year we ordered 4,600 MXU. That was the $697,000 or the $700,000 you guys approved for the bond issuance," Bacon said, explaining MXU replacement cycles and how economies of scale drove the order quantities.
Bacon also reported the city identified approximately 1,700 lead service lines during a recent inventory. He said if the city replaced 10% of those each year it would cost roughly $177,000 annually, and that main-line replacement budgets (about $250,000) currently replace roughly 1% of the system each year.
On distribution infrastructure, Bacon reported the city maintains about 135 miles of water mains, roughly 8,600 service connections, some 3,200 valves and about 1,200–1,300 hydrants. He noted material price increases (for example, a fire hydrant cost about $1,900 in 2019 and about $3,600 now) and said capital planning must account for parts and aging assets.
Bacon also reviewed KDOT-related and local street projects: Metal Lark school sidewalk (80/20 match), geometric improvements at 4th and Joplin, a mill-and-overlay authorization for June bidding, a Locust Street Transportation Alternatives grant application to connect PSU to the Kelce College area, and other pavement-restoration bids and cost-share submissions. He said the city continues to coordinate utility work with KDOT-funded projects and to pursue grant funding to leverage local budgets.
Bacon closed by noting recruitment and training remain department priorities as staff handle asset inventories, meter deployments and coordination on major street projects.
