The Town of Duck Hill heard two presentations at Monday night’s regular meeting, one proposing that the town upgrade from manual read water meters to automatic water meters and another for the installation of playground equipment for the town’s park.
During their board meeting, they heard from Jenny Jones and Adekunle Abioye from Fiske International. The company specializes in construction, project and facilities management, operations and maintenance, engineering and environmental services and PPE Supplies.
The group proposed switching out the town’s manual water meters for more accurate electronic meters (AMRs), stating that Duck Hill had a 40 to 50 percent loss in water billing revenue, according to 2019 records. And, with their meters, they could work to retain 95 percent revenue.
Jones told the board they would have the town participate in a pilot program, where they would come in and take up some of the meters in Duck Hill and replace them with AMRs.
“We would be able to compare the data and show you all what you’re billing versus what our meters would bill,” Jones said.
She said the company would integrate its reading system to whatever system is currently used for billing, and they would walk City Clerk LaSonja Sizemore step-by-step throughout the entire process. Jones also said the readers had leak detection.
She said if a customer had questions about their bill or their usage, the system could show how much they used, in a month, in a week, in three days, or in a day.
Jones said if the pilot program is something the board would agree to, they would notify the community by sending out flyers, leaving hangers on doors, and making the community aware that they were there.
City Engineer Joe Sutherland told the board it’s something they should consider.
“I don’t think you even need the pilot program. I think you should skip the pilot and go for the meters,” he said. “I agree with them on the water loss.”
Board Attorney Adam Kirk said that Winona did the same thing in the past.
“I wish [Gas Superintendent] Frank [Faulkner] was here so he could tell y’all how much he loves it,” he said.
Sutherland did warn Sizemore that if the town decided to switch to AMRs, she should expect a little blowback. But, also said the move would be easier for her.
“They’re [the customers] not going to be too happy, because some of their water bills are going to go up,” Sutherland said.
Jones said that since the city does it manually, however many meters are in Duck Hill, each one of those readings have to be put in and calculated. But, with their system, that part is handled because the reading system would send the numbers to billing system.
Alderman Chris Caldwell asked if it would mean more time or less time for Sizemore.
“It would be less time. Right now, it may take her about two to three days. That will be shortened,” she said.
Alderwoman Linda Bennett asked about the price of the meters. Aboiye said a breakdown of what everything cost, installation, construction would all be broken down as they moved forward, if the board chose to do so.
“You said they could chose who they wanted their meters through?” Sutherland said.
“Yes, that decision is left up to the board,” Abioye said.
Jones said they have a list of vendors that they work with, that the board can chose from.
“I have a list, too,” Sutherland said.
Also, Allen Mumbower with Struthers Recreation presented the board with a catalog of playground equipment.
Everett said she wanted to see equipment that is not only useful to the children of Duck Hill but also to the elderly. Bennett said she wanted to see a walking track.
Mumbower told the board that both could be realized. He said there could be a walking track that had fitness stations around the area. Mumbower said that he went by the park, but he didn’t get out. He said whatever equipment the board chose, could be incorporated with the equipment there or they could replace it altogether.
Mumbower told the board that playground equipment isn’t cheap, but there were ways they could purchase it.
“There’s a grant through Game Time, which is out of Fort Payne, Ala., that the town could apply for, but there is a match to it,” he said.
He said there’s also a grant through the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks that could finance the walking trail, a grant through Blue Cross, Blue Shields, and a federal grant that they could apply for that would help the foot the cost of the equipment.
Mumbower said the board could phase the project in, so that it would ease the cost.
“You could buy one piece one year, and phase it out over five years,” he said.
