I’m reading my Pride from Lombard, and it says new technology saves water and money with new water meters. I’d like to know how much water and how much money they expect to save, and for the village, is it cost-effective? Also, I’d like to know if they are putting people—such as meter readers—out of work. And in this economy, if the cost factor does not really save so much, why, if they do, would they think about putting people out of work? These poor little guys who read the meters, and that I’m sure they really depend on their job, and the technology moguls can probably just sit in the office. Well, I’d like to know that.

Carl Goldsmith, head of public works for the Village of Lombard, responded, “The reading of water meters is a crucial village function. The work involves visiting every water meter once every other month and recording the reading. Over the years there have been technological improvements that have made the process more efficient and more accurate. The Village of Lombard has implemented technologies in the past as a means of ensuring the accuracy of the data used for the purposes of billing. The current practice of using touch pads to take readings provides accuracy, but requires the same level of effort and manpower as a meter reader writing down readings along the route. The village is looking to improve upon the accuracy and efficiency of the data collection process and improve the village’s customer service delivery related to water billing. To address the issue of the employment of meter readers, the village currently contracts for the reading of the meters. This contract will remain in place until at least 2015 when the single-family meter program is scheduled to move forward. Due to the commercial and multi-family replacement program, the contract will be amended to reduce the number of reads. To accomplish improving the efficiency of the reading process, the village included the meter replacement program in the Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal year 2011. The program will replace the water meters with a fully automated system; commonly referred to as Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI). The AMI system uses fixed point antennas and smart-points attached to each meter to have a two-way means of communicating data (readings) to the village. The smart points attach to the current touch-pad to reduce the time and cost of installation. This data is then inputted automatically into the village’s billing system. As the village began the process of developing the specifications for the AMI project, a more detailed analysis of the current meters was conducted. This led to a change in the proposed scope of the project and timing of replacement. The staff presented the modified project scope to the Public Works Committee at the May 2010 meeting. The revised program takes into account the efficiency of the meters based upon industry standards. Based upon the analysis, it was determined that the small meters (<1” or less) were operating within the respective range. The large meters (>1”) were found to be operating outside the industry standards and not properly recording the flow. As a result of the analysis, staff recommended the following actions to the Public Works Committee:
• Proceed with the installation of the infrastructure (backbone) of the system in FY 2011 based upon further propagation studies by the selected manufacturer.
• Proceed with the installation of automated fixed point hardware for all multi-family and commercial accounts in FY 2011.
• Shift the implementation and the associated costs of the fixed point system for single family residential units to FY 2016 and continue to monitor the performance of the meters through the meter testing program. 
The Public Works Committee concurred with the staff recommendation and requested the staff bring back a formal proposal for the purchase and installation of a fixed-point automated meter reading system from the chosen vendor. The village staff met with several vendors of fixed point remote reading systems and has determined that the Sensus FlexNet system is the best application for the Village of Lombard. The village has a long standing relationship with Sensus and can capitalize on the reuse of approximately 1,000 current small meters that have been recently installed, which will ultimately reduce the village’s costs for the project. The FlexNet system has been successfully integrated with the village’s billing system. Furthermore, the FlexNet system provides a two-way communication that can provide a multitude of unforeseen benefits to the customer and village. The village conducted a test of the Sensus FlexNet system in May 2010 through the installation of 21 smart points throughout Lombard and a mobile radio antenna to read the smartpoints. Throughout the week of testing, the system had 100 percent reading accuracy. At the village board meeting of Aug. 19, 2010, the village accepted a proposal from HD Supply for the replacement of the commercial and multi-family meters, installation of two tower base stations for collection, installation of a server and software, as well as programming devices and training. The proposal is in the amount of $1,600,855.42. This proposal includes the installation of iPERL meters for small meter application. The iPERL is 100 percent lead-free with no moving parts and maintains its accuracy over a 20-year lifetime. The system provides AMI connectivity and 14 conditions, diagnostic and lifetime alarms allows for quick resolution to issues experienced in the field. The proposal also includes the installation of Omni C2 meters for the large meter application. The Omni C2 meter is one of the most technologically advanced large water meters on the market today. The meter uses a new Floating Ball Technology (FBT) that employs an impeller with a ball design which makes the impeller weightless in the water line. The technology enables the impeller to begin moving with very little water flow or force through the meter. The result is that OMNI has an extended flow range with better low-flow sensitivity, down to 1/10 of a gallon, as well as the ability to capture extended high flow rates— all with virtually no wear. As part of the analysis of the AMI program, the village looked at the return on investment (ROI) relative to the meter replacement program for commercial and multi-family accounts. This analysis provided for a ROI of 4.9 years based upon lost revenue of $260,492.31 in fiscal year 2010. The analysis also indicates that the village will generate additional revenues of $4.1 million dollars over a 15-year period through the replacement of the 1,539 commercial and multi-family meters alone. The village has sent letters to affected property owners introducing the program. The scheduling of appointments and the meter installs will be done through a contractor and will be done at no cost to the property owners. Individuals with questions should contact the Department of Public Works at (630) 620-5740.”

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For the person who called in saying that Obama has accomplished nothing, he has accomplished a heck of a lot more in his few months than President Bush messed up for the last two terms. The person he needed was someone with skill; well, we had skill, so to speak, and where did it get us? In the dumper.

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Hi there, Lombard here. I’d just like to know why you Democrats feel the need for a Communist government. I mean, let’s get back to normal here. Give us a break.

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Would the middle school-age girl, who was with the two boys trick or treating with a large white pillow case on June Lane please give to the police department the car keys—four keys on the ring—she found in her bag?