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Staff outlines $200k–$340k estimates to move Mabton toward radio‑read water meters
Summary
Staff presented two cost estimates to convert Mabton's manual meter reads to radio‑read (AMR) meters: roughly $200,000 if city crews install or about $340,000 with contractor installation; staff recommended phased conversion and checking procurement rules and account mapping.
Staff described options to replace manual water meters with AMR (radio‑read) technology to reduce meter‑reading time from days to minutes and reduce human error. The presenter offered two bracketing estimates: "This is around 200,000 for the city staff with the installation," assuming city installation and minimal engineering; and a contractor‑installation scenario of about $340,000. He explained the figures include meter hardware, basic engineering and a contingency and stressed the need to ensure each meter serial number aligns with customer accounts in the billing system.
Council discussed procurement and timing, noting the city attorney should review whether city staff can install hundreds of meters at once without formal bidding. Members also discussed a phased approach in which new meters are retrofitted for radio read over time and the software/hardware interface with billing would be implemented as meter counts reach sufficiency. Staff indicated they would prepare bid documents, check legal procurement constraints and provide a more detailed scope and timeline if the council wishes to proceed.
