City passes final reading of touch-pad meter policy

The Fairfield City Council passed the final reading of the Touch Pad Meter Policy, Ordinance 1092, Monday night, changing the city?s default device to a touch-pad meter instead of a radio-read meter.

Water department superintendent Carl Chandler said going forward personnel will offer new accounts touch-pad meters or a choice of whatever else they have available.

The city also is removing opt-out fees for residents wishing to have radio-read meters removed from their homes, and are agreeing to reimburse residents who have already paid opt-out fees.

Standard tapping fees for new service lines will still apply.

Water and Sewer Utilities Committee chairman Daryn Hamilton said the new ordinance will not cause the city to lose money on leftover wireless meters.

?We buy meters through a purchase-as-you-go program,? he said. ?We don?t keep a huge inventory on hand.?

The water department began implementing the radio-read meters roughly 10 years ago. To date, about one-third of residents have them in their homes.

Beginning in May, a number of residents formed a citizens action group, Fairfield Coalition for Safe Utility Meters, expressing concerns signals from the devices could be harmful to their health. The coalition presented a petition to the city in July with more than a thousand signatures in opposition to wireless meters and opt-out fees. They also have advocated the city switch to a fiber optic system, which could be wired to existing touch-pad meters.

Hamilton said the fiber optic plan is ?just in the discussion phases.?

?There is nothing in the ordinance that has anything to do with a fiber optic system,? he said.

He voiced concerns about the effect switching to fiber optics would have on residents? water utility bills. City administrator Kevin Flanagan projected the plan to cost roughly $3.6 million as a beginning estimate, some of which he hopes to pay for with grants.

?While there are merits to fiber optics, the expense will be astronomical,? Hamilton said. ?If you think you?re paying too much for your water now, just wait.?

Although Hamilton doesn?t personally agree with those opposed to smart meters, he said he stands by the city?s decision to heed citizens? concerns.

?Not only does the government make decisions based on feedback from citizens, sometimes the decision is based off a very small local group,? he said. ?If it?s the only input I?ve got, that?s what I?ll go by.?

Hamilton said although late to the game, Fairfield resident Jim Morrow has begun collecting signatures for a petition, Fairfield?s Quiet Majority, to go back to wireless meters and to explore telephone based reporting systems.

Hamilton said he welcomes input from a larger sampling of the community.

?Then we?re going to get a real debate about what is good and what isn?t for the entire city of Fairfield,? he said.