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Politics & Government

Burr Ridge to Hire Part-Time Water Meter Readers

Village will employ two meter readers after ending a 10-year service contract with DuPage County.

Responding to a cost hike for reading water meters, Burr Ridge trustees approved a plan to end a 10-year contract with DuPage County and hire part-time employees instead.

DuPage County recently proposed to increase the cost of meter reading from 50 cents per read to $1 per read for properties in DuPage County, and $2 per read for properties outside of DuPage County. The new costs would result in an increase in the annual cost of meter reading from $12,147 to $37,038.

Steve Stricker, the village administrator, said hiring two part-time employees to read the meters is a better use of village funds. In addition to reading meters, the part timers can also perform other tasks for the village, including assisting with snow removal in the winter.

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“This is the most effective way moving forward,” Stricker said.  “The county may not be happy with it, but they’re the ones causing the problem.”

Trustee John Manieri said the village should make sure any part time employees hired for this position have a commercial drivers license to assist with snow removal.

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The cost of hiring two part-time employees is estimated at $31,411. He reminded the board that part-time employees are not provided health care nor are they eligible for public pensions. Hiring part-time employees will help alleviate the Department of Public Works work load which was impacted by tight budgets and a 16 percent reduction in the workforce over the past few years.

As village water meters throughout the village are updated to more sophisticated models with electronic transmitters, Stricker said the meters will be read within a few hours.

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