Delcambre still having water meter problems

DELCAMBRE - Delcambre water meters have been the talk of the town for the last few years.
Each month, representatives from Sellers and Associates attend the regular town meetings and give updates on the progress of the water meter project. Installation went as smoothly as it could, but reading the meters and receiving the information that the meters hold has been an issue since going online in January.
Since January, each report from Sellers and Associates has brought up issues with some of the 900-plus meters installed.
Whether it was issues causing the new meters to be replaced or issues with addresses and readings, it has caused a headache for the town.
Homer Stelly, the Street Commissioner for the town, said that he decided to have the city change the meters out themselves, so that they could all learn the meters and how they work since they are a little complicated.
Delcambre Mayor Pam Blakely, along with the rest of the aldermen, agreed that the town should not have to pay full price to the contractors because city workers replaced some of the meters.
“When we got those replacement meters in, our city workers were the ones who installed them,” Mayor Blakely said. “We shouldn’t have to pay these contractors for the installation that our workers did themselves. That item should be credited or we should send them an invoice.”
Sellers and Associates understood that and after a long discussion with the town’s attorney Gabe Duhon, who agreed with the town, everyone was able to find some common ground.
“With these meters, you’re going to have a handful of them that will have issues we come across,” Larry Cramer of Sellers and Associates said. “All we can do is find out what is going on with the meters, find the issues and go from there. We are positive that once we reach out to these contractors, they will be more than happy to help and work with the town in finding the best outcome for everyone.”