Water department staff told the Bridal Operations Committee on April 25 that reservoir security cameras, design and contract funding for Union Street water-main replacement, and a multi-year large-meter replacement program are among the water budget priorities.

Staff said a camera contract for the Blackburn reservoir is under contract and that the department is seeking pricing to add a camera at the Gray Summit tank. Cameras are proposed to address DNR security concerns at reservoirs, staff said.

Union Street water-main replacement is listed as an essential, self-funded component of the larger Union Street roadway project; staff noted a construction estimate for the water main of about $535,000 and contract design balances of roughly $105,000. The department emphasized that the water-main work must occur before roadway work in that corridor.

Staff proposed updating the city’s water-infrastructure improvement plan for the first time since 2011 and flagged a large-meter replacement program for sizable meters (compound meters converted to single-register 'mach 10' meters) to reduce manual billing effort and improve metering accuracy; staff estimated a planning-level cost around $140,000 for replacing multiple large meters.

Department staff asked committee members to note which work is under contract and which are planning estimates; they requested confirmation that design and construction-engineering balances be shown in the budget and that staff will return with more detailed costs.