John Oxford
The Moultrie Observer
MOULTRIE —
The Moultrie City Council approved the purchase of transmitters designed to save additional money for an ongoing project.
City Utilities Director Roger King requested the purchase of 200 two-port transmitters for Automatic Meter Infrastructure (AMI), at a cost of $30,250. The request was unanimously approved by the council Tuesday night.
King said the transmitters were found as a way to send information from two meters that are side by side rather than buying two separate transmitters. The single transmitters cost $135 each to purchase, but the two-port transmitters were available at $150 each.
“These are a better option for some of our water meters,” King said.
The purchase was part of the process for the AMI restructuring, which was approved with a $433,000 award at the April 20 meeting. King said it will take three to four years to complete, but the system will drastically improve utility billing service for customers.
Once the system is in place, King said, it will allow the city to disconnect and reconnect service remotely. It will also allow customers to choose a billing date, have a bill sent out quicker after getting a reading and to be able to better explain problems or concerns with bills.
“This does position us to do a lot more with the meters,” King said. “When this is through, all the meters will be upgraded.”
Other matters discussed and/or approved by the council were:
• Holding a public hearing and approving an alcoholic beverage license application from Katherine H. Cannon to sell beer for on-premises consumption at the Funky Monkey Tavern at 220 Highway 33 S.
• City Manager Mike Scott informed the council of the 2010 Archway Leadership Summit Follow-up, scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 23, at the Southwest Georgia Community Action Council Headquarters, and presented council members with a 2009 annual financial report for the year that ended Sept. 30, 2009.
