Council hears proposal to automate nearly 1,700 water meters, hears $400–$600 per-unit estimates

Staff member presented a multi-part proposal to replace or retrofit the town’s water meters with automated readers that would push usage data to the office and allow customers to view usage on a mobile app. Staff said current meters are prone to freezing and fading in winter, and the town’s field tablets and battery supply have caused repeated manual-reading and data-processing problems.

Council members were told the simplest pilot options would require converting the entire service area for the data-collection model to work. Staff cited two vendor cost benchmarks: an early model estimate of about $600,000 for the hotel area and an installation figure of about $400 per meter when labor and equipment are counted. Staff estimated the town services roughly 1,700 meters and emphasized choosing equipment that could be upgraded from a drive-by receiver to a fully automated system to avoid repeated replacements.

Questions from council focused on funding sources and timing. One committee member asked whether wastewater-treatment funds might be available for selective purchases; staff suggested buying automatic shutoff meters for customers who are repeatedly behind on payments while planning a townwide procurement. Staff recommended issuing a request for pricing and evaluating vendors for long-term flexibility, with a roughly 12-week lead time for units after purchase.

No binding procurement decision was made; council directed staff to return with vendor pricing and a recommendation for staged implementation and funding approaches.