Corunna council orders replacement hydrant meter after billing discrepancy

Corunna’s town council voted to order a replacement hydrant meter after staff flagged discrepancies between the hydrant meter readings and the actual water usage reported by drivers.

At the meeting, staff described a difference between readings Esther recorded and the hydrant meter display and recommended a lower‑cost 2‑inch alternative that would be easier to install. Mr. Maintenance explained the 2‑inch meter list price is roughly $377 and that the town would need roughly $150 in adapters and parts, meaning the total cost would be “a little over $500.” The council moved to purchase the unit and authorized staff to place the order.

Why it matters: hydrant meters are the town’s mechanism for billing commercial or contractor water use from hydrants. When a meter underreports, the town can lose revenue; council members said they wanted to ensure users pay for the water they take.

What the council discussed: staff said older hydrant meters in town are decades old and may be serviceable but that replacement would be more reliable than repeated repairs. The recommended 2‑inch lead‑free meter used in mobile home parks was described as a practical, lower‑cost choice; if the town later wanted a larger hydrant meter kit it would cost significantly more. A council member noted that any shortfall in winter usage could be partially offset in spring months.

Next steps: staff will order the 2‑inch hydrant meter and the necessary adapters. The council did not record a roll‑call tally of the vote in the minutes beyond a voice approval at the meeting. The meter will be installed and town staff will monitor readings and billing to see whether the discrepancy is resolved.