Parts of the City on Grid
In a report to Council during the pre-meeting session, City staff shared with Council members the progress in the AMR/AMI project that started on March 1st, with a plan to install 156 electric meters and 133 water meters, all connected on the “grid”, reporting back data on consumption and utilization.
The pilot areas of town are W. Main, Bowman, Miles, N. Tippecanoe, Kyle and North Westedge. Of the electic meters installed 6 were returned to the City as they required meter adapters. Some complications also occured in the installation of the water meters. 15 meters were returned for various reasons including wrong meter sizes, ,5 homes with no access, 3 vacant homes and 1 that required plumbing repairs.
Since the installation of the new water meters, the City has been able to identify three accounts with possible water leaks. Upon follow up, one residence had a water softener that was stuck on recycle, another with a leaky toilet and the third was a business that is still investigating whether or not they have a leak, or a constant water demand.
Full Grid Deployment
The City plans full deployment June 1st, with work beginning in Rosewood-Windmere-Woodlawn and then working south through town. The electric deployment is planned to last 2 months with the water deployment taking 4 months.
Council Notes
Matt Owen from the Downtown Tipp City Partnership reported the organizations quarterly status. In addition to the executive overview, Owen delivered committee reports as well as the organization’s P&L statement. Councilman Lovett asked Owen how the organization was fairing with the recent decrease in funding from the City. Owen stated that the Partnership was surviving, and working harder to seek out donations and funding, adding that the hiring of the part time fund raising coordinator was delivering the planned results.
Events
Matt Owen also shared the planned events across the Downtown including the “What a Girl Wants” event, the Canal Music Fest and Antiques and Artisans show. In addition to events being held, the Partnership took part in the Heritage Ohio conference, ,a meeting of Main Street organizations across the state. Owen reported that they are going to wait until they are more finacially strong to make the application for Main Street status. There will also be some studying done as to whether the organization can support the $2,500/year membership fee for the organization’s prestigious status.
Ordinances
Council unanimously approved the adoption of the updates to the rate maps that are submitted to the National Flood Insurance organization.
Council approved the review and approval of temporary permits through administrative means, rather than always requiring BZA approval. This will shorten the time to receive a temporary permit from 30 days to 1-2 days. Councilman Lovett sponsored the measure and it received unanimous support.
Ordinance First Reading
Council called for the special assessments for curbs, gutters, sidewalks and driveway approaches for Horton and Hartman street developments. The homeowners that live on these streets that received notice of the assessment have 30 days to pay for the improvements or the amounts will be added to their title and made payable by the property owner in 10 yearly installments.
