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<br />City Engineer Jankowski stated thatstaff will explore the closing of 142nd and opening Mallard <br />Ponds, get traffic counts on the frontage road as well as costs for improving the frontage road. <br /> <br />Case #3: <br /> <br />Update on Water Meter Exchange Program <br /> <br />Utilities Director Nelson stated that in late February 2008, the Council approved a 5-year <br />replacement project for all the water meters in the City. He stated that this comes to 744 meters <br />per year and will eliminate the contracted services for reading meters. He stated that staff has <br />exchanged 502 meters so far his year and staff has read all the meters 3 times which took less <br />than 2 hours each time. He stated that the new meters will also alert the City of any leaks and <br />noted that the City sent out 23 letters to residents informing them of a leak. <br /> <br />Chairperson Elvig asked if this set the City up if there is a leak and a resident says that they <br />never got a letter. .He asked if the letters should be certified letters. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that he didn't think the City had any legal duty in this situation to <br />inform people of the leaks. He stated that he thinks it is a good policy, and more of a good <br />Samaritan situation that in no way obligates the City. <br /> <br />Chairperson Elvig stated that perhaps including language in the letter that says the City is in no <br />way obligated could help the situation. He reviewed a past situation where a homeowner had a 3 <br />million gallon leak and legal action ensued where the City ended up paying a few thousand <br />dollars. <br /> <br />Councilmember Olson asked how often the City bills and what happens if the City sees there is a <br />leakage at a same house. <br /> <br />Utilities Supervisor Nelson stated that the City bills quarterly. He noted that a second letter <br />could be sent and marked 2nd notice. <br /> <br />Councilmember Olson suggested that second notice be stamped on the outside of the envelope. <br /> <br />City Administrator Ulrich asked how the City would handle a situation, for example, a burst <br />pipe, and how quickly the City would have a response. <br /> <br />Utilities Supervisor Nelson stated that since the City currently bills quarterly, there would be a 3- <br />month long leak before anyone would notice. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Olson stated that there have been situations where the City has noticed <br />water coming out of a house and has shut off the water at the street. He noted that the situation <br />Chairperson Elvig was referring to was a situation where there was a sprinkler line that had <br />broken and it leaked under the snow all winter. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that he feels this is homeowner responsibility, not the City. <br /> <br />Public Works Committee / September 16, 2008 <br />Page 12 of 17 <br />