Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 14, 1993 TAG: 9308140095
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NWEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The council, sitting Friday morning as the Utility Committee, heard an update from Public Works Director Mike Jenkins on what is needed.
Jenkins said he wants to start regularly replacing meters after 10 years, which usually is how long they stay accurate.
High-volume meters need to be changed or at least calibrated every year, he said.
The newest of those in Pulaski are 3 years old.
Councilman Andrew Graham said Pulaski probably has 250 or more meters not working properly.
Some are 20 years old, he said.
When meters wear out, Graham said, they slow down. Because the town has so many of them in that condition, he said, it is losing out on a lot of water revenue it should be getting.
Town Manager Thomas Combiths said the matter was being given to council members for information.
"We feel this is critical," Combiths said.
The committee accepted Councilman Roy D'Ardenne's suggestion to have the staff draw up a plan for council's consideration on what is needed to take care of the situation and the estimated costs.
Jenkins wanted to start putting tags on new meters that would have their replacement date. He said that he is limited by the number of town employees as to how quickly he can get meters calibrated or replaced.
Vice Mayor W.H. "Rocky" Schrader asked about how electronic meters or hand-held electronic meter-reading devices could speed up the process.
Jenkins said a computer had been budgeted for the Public Works Department in 1993-94 but got cut before the budget was approved.
D'Ardenne suggested that buying the computer be reconsidered because it could help in billing and keeping track of how long meters have been in service.
Town Engineer John Hawley gave the committee a list of water system improvements proposed for the next five years at a cost of $666,375.
by CNB