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TRUMAN-- The Truman City Council heard about some different utility business from foreman, Brent Brown, during its meeting on Tuesday. Most notable, Brown provided a metering update.
"We've been exploring metering options for two or three years now. The system we have now is obsolete. The equipment is obsolete," Brown said.
He said he's been reaching out to companies and other communities and that the best option he found was Metering and Technology Solutions, which is based out of Burnsville.
"It's not a drive-by system, you can read it from an office and it will collect 92 data points a day," Brown said.
To start, Brown said they would purchase 24 electric meters for a total of $4,464. Going forward, it would cost $186 each per year. He noted that the system works with both water and electric.
The council asked some questions about the software. Brown said that the cost of licensing and maintenance is $500 a month and noted that it's fairly low compared to other systems that he had looked at.
"The set-up fee they won't bill until after six months and the monthly billing they wouldn't bill until after six months," Brown said.
He said currently between water, sewer and electric they have $11,000 budgeted for metering updates, which they've been budgeting for for several years.
The council approved a motion with going through the metering updates.
Next, Brown said he had met with Bolton & Menk regarding inventory of Emerald Ash Borer trees to prepare for grants.
"If we have time this year we'll submit the second portion of the grant for tree removal.. stump removal and replacing the tree and it's 100 percent paid," Brown said.
The first part of the grant is due Sept. 18 and the second part Oct. 7. Brown said they're asking Bolton & Menk to take inventory of the trees in boulevards, parks and public grounds and to identify whether or not the tree is an Ash tree or unsafe.
Finally, Brown said he's been working on the generation plant transformer. He said he's been working with a contractor, L&S, who provided a quote to identify the leak source. Brown shared some about the process with the council.
Council Member Chris Mosloski asked how many customers it affects. Brown said about 60 percent of customers as it covers North of Ciro Street from the West end to Highway 15. Mosloski asked how long the process will be and Brown said they won't know until they learn of the findings.
The council approved of working with L&S to work on repairing the transformer.
In other news, the council briefly discussed the 2024 budget, but will discuss it further at its next meeting on Sept. 18.
The council approved the following donations:
-- $100 from Roxy Brummond for the community building.
-- $300 from Bradley and Laurie Sherman for the community building.
-- $700 from Kato Cycle for the ambulance department.