New water meters coming to Red Eagle residents

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March 3, 2013

New water meters coming to Red Eagle residents

Anonymous Weatherford Democrat The Weatherford Democrat Sun Mar 03, 2013, 10:24 AM CST

By BRIAN SMITH

HUDSON OAKS — Red Eagle neighborhood residents will be getting new water meters soon as part of a pilot project city council members approved here Thursday night.

The pilot project, which will last between 60 and 90 days, is part of an automated metering program that is being paid for as part of the 2012 water improvement bond, which funded approximately $180,000 for meter replacement and implementation throughout the city. Under the original proposal, all residential water meters were scheduled to be replaced in the program, according to a staff report. After talking with program cordinators Ferguson and Mueller Systems, it was found to be more cost effective to replace all the meters, including commercial and those on well water, including the Dyegard system.

Under the new proposal, once the pilot project ends and any kinks are worked out, all the meters will be replaced, according to Assistant City Administrator Patrick Lawler. No one will be charged for the meter replacement, Lawler said.

The cost for the entire project is expected to be just under $296,000 with the additional monies coming from the savings of three previous water improvement projects, Lawler said.

Firearms proposal

In other business, action was tabled on an amendment to the Code of Ordinances regarding the discharge of firearms.

City Administrator Sheri Campbell-Husband said council gave direction last November to rework the ordinance because of safety concerns regarding existing and potential discharge of weapons in residential areas. At present, no firearms can be discharged in the city limits, but bowhunting is legal. Under the proposal, city code was amended to better reflect state law, which prohibits the discharge of all weapons, including BB, pellet or airguns, on property less than 10 acres,

Campbell-Husband stated in a staff report it is difficult for cities to regulate the use of weapons in the state.

Council members had issues with the wording, asking if kids playing paintball in their own backyard would be allowed. The council then amended the proposal, allowing the use of BB or paintball guns. The wording then became confusing, so the council tabled the item which will be brought back at the March 28 meeting.