Des Plaines defers buying automated water meters

The Des Plaines city council this week deferred a decision on buying $160,000 of new water meters and automated meter reading equipment because some aldermen had concerns about the cost, switching from the current analog system and the choice of vendor.

Each year, the city’s public works department purchases water meters for new construction and to replace aging equipment.

This year, the city is supposed to be implementing a new automated meter reading system, for which the city council allocated $95,000 in the 2011 budget.

Installing the automated system, which would have been a multiyear project, would allow city staff to read water meters through a wireless network, which means no more knocks on residents’ doors by public works employees asking to take readings.

Once the network is installed, officials would replace analog meters citywide with digital ones and ultimately eliminate the need for manual meter reading, which costs the city $60,000 yearly, officials said.

Tim Oakley, city public works and engineering director, said it’s only a matter of time before the city will have to upgrade its system because analog meter equipment and parts are being discontinued by manufacturers in favor of the digital devices.

“We need to move toward digital,” Oakley said.

At present, the city has seven analog water meter units in hand and will probably go through that within a 12-month period, Oakley said.

Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman expressed concern over the cost of switching to the new automated system.

“I think this is going to impact our budget. It should be part of our budget discussions in the coming months,” he said.

Brookman said the matter also should be vetted at the committee level before the city council votes on it again. Some towns have decided not to go the digital route, he said, asking city staff to look into that.

Des Plaines Mayor Mary Moylan said he had a problem with the recommended vendor, Badger Meter Inc., of Milwaukee, after reading news reports about claims the company was holding some towns hostage over replacement parts.

“I think there’s more information that came out about this company and I think the aldermen should have all the information before they make a decision,” Moylan said.

The city council referred the matter back to city staff for further review.