About 370 meters not recording actual usage
With about 370 of the town of Flomaton’s water meters not working and more failing every week, costing the town money, the town council voted Monday afternoon to purchase 100 new meters after previously purchasing another 100 meters.
Utilities Superintendent Shaun Moye said the town has 920 water meters in the ground. The town installed 900 water meters in 2007 with meters having a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
With the meters not working many residents have only been paying the minimum bill, which is causing a shortage in the water fund.
Councilman Roger Adkinson said water is an enterprise account and the town should be making, not losing money, each month.
The council agreed to purchase 100 meters with hopes of purchasing another 100 by the end of the year.
In December the cost of purchasing 100 radio-read water meters was about $40,000.
Mayor Jim Johnson also said he is seeking a grant to help offset some of the cost to purchase the new meters.
In other business Monday, the council:
- Approved a $9,635 bid from Mendoza’s Barrier Fence Co., in Brewton for a new fence around the water tank on Highway 31.
- Approved $4,960 from Wedge Roofing of Flomaton to replace the roof on the warehouse behind town hall.
- Voted to move the time of municipal court from 3 p.m. to 2 p.m. The municipal court is held at town hall on the first and third Tuesday each month.
- Approved the town’s annual Municipal Waste Water Planning Program.
- Tabled a recommendation by Councilwoman Lillian Dean to resurface Martin Luther King Drive.
- Agreed to get prices on installing security cameras at Oak Commons Park.
- Approved a resolution authorizing Civil Southeast, LLC., to make an application to the Alabama Department of Transportation for ALDOT’s Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) for sidewalk improvements.
- Agreed to spend $4,000 with The Retail Coach, a national organization that works to help towns attract retail businesses to the area. The contract is for two years.
