By Taylor Boyd
The master water meter shared between the Town of Stuart and Patrick County was the main topic of discussion at the Stuart Town Council at the Wednesday, Nov. 17 meeting.
Town Manager Bryce Simmons said for the past few months, the master meter readings have been approximately 200,000 gallons more per month than the metered readings the Public Service Authority (PSA) has billed out to customers.
“We have been in talks with PSA Director Mark Vernon about having that meter calibrated to determine if it’s actually correct,” he said.
Simmons said the Electromagnetic (Mag) meter has no moving parts inside it.
“It determines flow by magnets, basically water flowing through it, and it determines a magnetic volt that reads the meter,” he said, adding the meter could have become uncalibrated in several ways.
Town Attorney Christopher Corbett said Vernon has examined the meter lines to see if a leak has occurred.
“Between the two competing theories, leaks, vs. uncalibrated meter, the out of calibration meter is sort of winning,” Corbett said.
Simmons said the fact that the reading number has been consistent lends support to the calibration theory. He added there has been no discussion of recuperating losses between the town and the PSA.
“I basically told him (Vernon) that I don’t want to get into a position where we’re throwing figures at each other,” Simmons said, adding “making sure that meter is properly calibrated is what’s best for everyone.”
Mayor Ray Weiland suggested the town could share calibration costs with the county.
In other matters, the council:
*Approved the meeting minutes as written.
*Approved closing the Town Office the Friday after Thanksgiving.
*Heard an update about the wastewater treatment plant.
*Discussed the potential funding sources.
*Discussed internet upgrades.
*Discussed the process to receive the Historic Designation marker for the town’s Downtown area.
*Approved considering buying a tractor.
*Paid the bills.
