Local News

Hillsboro Hears Water Meter Presentation

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 09:59:06 CST

Members of the Hillsboro City Council heard a presentation from a new water meter company during their meeting Tuesday evening.

Woodard and Curran, who oversees operations at the water treatment plant in Hillsboro, recommended the company Midwest Meter to the city as a way of hearing other options for meters. According to public improvements commissioner Don Downs, the city has experienced customer service issues with their current meter vendor since they first began dealing with them around ten years ago.

Midwest Meter Vice President Matt Carls told the council that one of the benefits of their company is that they have web-based software that would allow employees to access meter information on their smart phones or tablets regardless of where they are. He also said their meters would be able to detect a leak and notify water treatment employees within six hours, as opposed to when meters are regularly checked every 30 days.

The cost of the meters to the city would be 89 cents per meter per month, which would include the cost of software and firmware upgrades, as well as data fees.

Mayor Brian Sullivan asked if the meters were battery operated and if the batteries would be replaceable. Carls responded that they were battery operated, but they are not replaceable. He said if a unit fails, Midwest Meter would install another unit, adding that attempting to replace one of the lithium batteries would destroy the meter.

Sullivan said the council would have to consider their options and no action was taken on the matter Tuesday.

The next Hillsboro City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m.