Daingerfield City Council receives audit report

The Daingerfield City Council had their regular monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 8. All members were present except Bob Thorne.

Following the unanimous approval of the minutes from the Jan. 11 meeting, the council was given a report from Mike Conway with Conway Company CPAs on the city’s Audit for Fiscal Year 2014-2015. Conway presented two letters to the members, explain that the first would detail any significant findings from the audit. He also advised the council that there were no significant findings. He did recommend investment training, which City Secretary Heide Edmondson stated was scheduled to happen in the near future. In explaining the second letter, Conway stated that the firm depends on internal control, and that the Daingerfield council is very active, as they need to be. The firm did suggest the city adopt a purchasing plan to ensure that purchases are researched and the best price is found. “Basically, this is all good news,” said Conway, adding that “the city’s financials are in very good shape.” Conway pointed out that there had been a $900,000 improvement in the finances over the year, saying “It was a very strong year for the city.”

Following the audit report, the council heard a presentation from Scott Parker, of ACT Pipe, and Ryan Hisel, with RG3 regarding electronic water meters. ACT Pipe is based in Houston, and partner with locally-owned RG3 to bring in water meters. “RG3 is a Texas-based company, which has everything possible done in Texas,” according to Hisel. The company’s main hub is in Longview, and their electronics are made in Red Oak. According to Hisel, the only component that does not come from Texas is the brass, which is mined in Wisconsin. The purpose of the presentation was to offer a quote to the city for new electronic water meters. After explaining that the RG3 program would be compatible with the city’s current AVR billing system, Hisel also stressed that RG3 does it all, from the making and installing of the meters, to fixing and repairing the meters. With the RG3’s electronic meters, a technician would have a computer in his truck which would pick up the meter readings as he drives through town. This could reduce what is currently a four hour job down into one and a half to two hours, according to Hisel, although he could not say specifically due to unknown conditions. The quote from RG3 to replace all water meters on the city’s lines is $285,791. This would include all the meters, installation, and the programs and receivers to read the meters.

In other business, the Council heard from City Manager Rocky Thomasson. In regards to a TxDOT grant, Thomasson stated that the city is waiting on TxDOT to complete their end of the grant. He also stated that the waterline grant should be completed, although he had not been in contact with them. Thomasson also stated, in regards to the electronic water meters, that he was working on getting Ferguson to present their bid at the next council meeting. Ferguson is the oldest meter company, and offers pricing similar to RG3. In regards to the water meter project, Thomasson said “The savings in labor costs alone with the electronic meters will pay for the new meters in four to five years.”

Following the approval of the City Manager’s Report, the council adjourned until their March meeting.