Town of Basile considers digital water meters

The better part of the two hour meeting of the Basile mayor and council on February 8 was given to presentations from the La. Rural Water Association and Neptune Meters in regards to the town financing and installing a new digital water meter system.
Tony Sonnier, representative from the water association, presented information about the town’s rate analysis in order to ascertain the feasibility and sustainability of the project.
The study showed that residential customers are currently paying a $21 base rate per month for the first 2,000 gallons of water usage with $5 added for each additional 1,000 gallons thereafter. Commercial customers pay $23 for the first 2,000 gallons with $6 added for each additional 1,000 gallons of water used thereafter.
In order to fund the purchase and installation of the new digital meter system, LRWA advises an increase of $1 per month to the base rate on all customers. The study also suggests the town review rates more often (a minimum of every five years) and may consider adopting a 3 percent to 5 percent yearly base rate increase, but the new base rate (if adopted) could be remain such until further increases are deemed necessary.
years) and may consider adopting a 3 percent to 5 percent yearly base rate increase for the future. The new base rate (if adopted) could remain such until further increases are deemed necessary.
Adam Roussel and his assistant from the meter company provided information about the digital water meters’ costs, maintenance, operation, use, and the benefits, thereof.
The reps explained the digital system allows the reading of each meter in a drive by of homes and businesses, using a digital device app which allows for quicker reading and better safety for the employees who are completing the reading task. The meter system gives out specific water readings based upon time in order to identify high usage periods in case of questions or problems that customers may have. It also identifies leaks and also removes human error from the monthly readings and is simply more accurate. This should eliminate bill disputes. All repairs to the meters would be under warranty for 20 years with replacement and all related cost covered.
In addition, the cost of the meters will include training, assistance, and repairs.
In other business, the status of the insurance claim for hurricane damages sustained to the Willie Belton Community Center was presented by Mayor Mark Denette. According to the mayor, the damages have been accessed at over $100,000. Attorney Dave Johnson will send a letter to the adjustor before the town decides how to proceed.
The mayor also made note of visitors who were at the regular January meeting where no quorum was present. Business representatives of a new venture that plans to locate at the former site of Redlich’s City Cash attended in order to sign letters of permit. A representative from Civic Source was also present at the January meeting for a discussion on property taxes, specifically unpaid property taxes and the public tax sale procedures. Since no action was required by a council vote, the permit papers were signed for the new business and the Civic Source representative gave his presentation to those in attendance in January.
A brief discussion about making exception to unused vacation time was held because some police personnel were not able to use all of their earned vacation time due to the pandemic and other personnel issues. The current policy does not allow employees to be reimbursed for unused vacation time nor to carry over unused time to the following year. The possibility of changing the policy was discussed, but no action was taken.
At the close of the meeting, Sarah Dake, the new regional representative from U.S. Senator John Kennedy’s Acadiana Office, introduced herself to the Basile officials and offered her assistance.