Approval of a $125,000 expenditure to move forward on a possible plan to replace waters meters is part of the consent agenda during Tuesday’s (July 22) Fort Smith Board of Director’s regular meeting.
A memo from Water Utilities Director Lance McAvoy to Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman notes that “Phase I” of the plan to replace water meters includes an “Investment Grade Audit” to be conducted by Framingham, Mass.-based Ameresco. The audit will analyze the city’s water meter information, meter consumption, and sizes and types of meters, McAvoy noted.
“AMERESCO will calculate potential revenue effects based on the accuracy of tested meters and the accuracy guaranteed by the manufacturer for the meter class,” McAvoy noted in the memo. “AMERESCO will also evaluate the potential operational and maintenance financial effects of the system rehabilitation and automation and with support of City staff, determine potential operational cost savings.”
McAvoy said the first phase should be finished within 3-5 months of when Ameresco receives water meter data from the city.
“When Phase One is complete, a presentation of the findings will be brought to the Board for discussion to determine if the Board desires to move forward with Phase 2 of the project,” according to McAvoy.
The board on June 24 agreed to allow city staff to work with Ameresco to develop options to modernize the city’s water meter system, which could help the city reduce an estimated non revenue water loss of around 35%.
Ameresco executive Chad Nobles said during the June 24 meeting the cost to replace meters could range between $500 and $1,200 a meter, which would be a total cost range in Fort Smith between $20 million and $48 million. Fort Smith had 39,372 water meters as of late June.
If the city moves forward with a meter-replacement plan, it will be the second such plan in less than 10 years. The city announced in October 2017 it would begin replacing outdated meters at an overall project cost of $7 million. However, several factors resulted in the process being paused before it was completed, with $5.225 million spent prior to the pause.
The board is also expected to interview Jason Mitchell in executive session. Mitchell is an applicant for director of internal audit. The board has previously interviewed Amanda Strange and James Carter for the job. The director of internal audit is only one of two top city jobs directly hired by the board, with the other being the city administrator.
The position has been vacant since April 1, 2024, when Tracey Shockley resigned after nine years with the city.
