Jerry, I just noticed another one of our specs; IX.A.10 that states, “All irrigation meters, fire meters and meters four inches (4”) or larger in size shall be turbine meters.” This also precludes a disc meter on the fire bypass. If we are going to modify the specs, this one should be included for consistency. 11/5/09 David E. Wilde Town of Addison Public Works Inspector 972-450-2847 dwilde@addisontx.gov P Please consider the environment before printing this email Jerry: FYI. Our Water System Requirements; Sec. IX.A.9. "Meters shall be set horizontally level in all directions." will need to be revised. Also, I can find no specification section specifically for Fire Services. There is a section (C.) for Positive Displacement Meters two inch and smaller. There is a section, (D.) that addresses Turbine meters 6" or less. In Sec. D. 1., the specification states, "Meters shall be of the Vertical Rotor Turbine type. Multi-jet and Single-Jet meters are not Vertical Rotor Turbine Meters." In D.20., the spec states, "The measuring chamber shall be a turbine assembly mounted in a vertical orientation." If the meter is mounted vertically, the measuring chamber assumes a horizontal orientation in violation of the spec. The mechanics of the turbine operation is spelled out in the next section (21.). These would be negated in a horizontal orientation. These specs should be changed to reflect the apparent insignificance of the "Vertical Rotor Type". There is no Standard Construction Detail for fire services other than the exterior vault. If we are allowing interior vertical or horizontal installations, we should make those additions to the standards. My intent is not to prefer one way or another, nor to be unnecessarily picky about meaningless things, only that we have our specs sufficiently clear and consistent to enhance compliance with them, and to avoid the possible accusation that we are capricious in our requirements and enforcements (as I have been accused of in the past). Believe me, contractors and developers are always asking "why?", and, "how long has this been required?", or, "Does everyone have to do this?", or "Can you show me the spec?" Having complete, accurate, and up-to-date specifications eliminates a lot of embarrassment and frustrations in the field, and gives us confidence that we are getting the best for the Town of Addison. We are constantly getting the comments, "That's not the way they do it in Dallas, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, etc., why can't we just ...?" , "Why do you want/need that?", etc. It will be tremendously helpful when we can have and distribute our finalized specifications before and during projects being built in Addison. And it will help immensely if they make sense, because contractors and developers are not as ignorant as one might believe, but are usually quite shrewd in manipulating any deficiencies, omissions, or contradictions. They are creatures of habit, and just assume that they can do everything the way they've always done it, regardless of where they are. Thank you. David E. Wilde Town of Addison Public Works Inspector 972-450-2847 dwilde@addisontx.gov P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: Jerry Davis Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 9:43 AM To: David Wilde Cc: Clay Barnett; Phillip Kagarice Subject: RE: FYI I am okay with a fire-line bypass meter (only) disc or turbine to be installed vertically as long as the meter itself meets our 2” and smaller spec. Jerry Davis, Utilities Superintendent Town of Addison 972-661-1693 jdavis@addisontx.gov P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: David Wilde Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 9:12 AM To: Jerry Davis Cc: Clay Barnett; Phillip Kagarice Subject: RE: FYI Jerry/Phil: Has a decision on this issue (highlighted below from a previous email) about fire-line bypass meters been settled? 90% of the time the devices come with Badger disc meters that have to be changed out to make the meters compatible with our electronics. What do we need to be telling the contractors/developers about the proper/appropriate meter they need to be getting? If my previous assumptions or understandings are incorrect, please bring me up to current spec so that Jose and I can try to inform people ahead of time. Thanks. David E. Wilde Town of Addison Public Works Inspector 972-450-2847 dwilde@addisontx.gov P Please consider the environment before printing this email. I met R.G. Allen onsite today and he let me in to look at one of the fire service meters (City supplied), and he informed me that Robert had inspected them both today prior to my arriving. I noted that it was a disc meter mounted vertically. I would like to see some verification from Hersey that this is an acceptable orientation for their disc meter. I thought also that it was agreed that the fire bypass should be a turbine meter anyway, to minimize the potential of a disc meter sticking after long periods of inactivity. Since Engineering inspects the underground portion of a fire line only, we are rarely, if ever, called when the fire sprinkler contractor installs the DCDA. Maybe with Lynn’s new computer system, we can be notified when that is called in for inspection, and we can then inspect the device and the meter/touch-pad. As far as a fire service being on without a meter inspection – since the meter is not used for billing based on usage normally, and because any usage through the bypass is typically very minimal - it would seem that providing fire service would take priority over metering usage in the short term, especially since the minimum billing includes 8,000 gallons, which is rarely if ever reached even after years of service. David E. Wilde Town of Addison Public Works Inspector 972-450-2847 dwilde@addisontx.gov P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: Jerry Davis Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 11:16 AM To: David Wilde Cc: Clay Barnett; Robert Trevino; Jose T Flores; Phillip Kagarice Subject: RE: FYI The policy is that only Clay or I have the authority to issue a meter but we do not want staff to exercise or encourage this option with the contractor. I will not hold a CO if I issue a meter to a contractor. This is two different policies. The policy that I am referring to is the New Meter Connection procedure. Regardless of how the contractor received the meter and once it is in place they will need to call engineering for a meter inspection. Now at this time according to our procedure they should not have any water service until; 1. Meter inspection is approved. 2. Utilities have completed a meter info card and turned into Finance. 3. Contractor has contacted Finance and application and deposit has been received. 4. Finance contacts Utilities to connect water service. Without water service or in this case fire service I am not sure the Fire Dept. will issue a TCO. But, I assume the water is already on even though we haven’t even completed step 1. Please note: The meter inspection report should not be turned in until it has met our specifications. Jerry Davis, Utilities Superintendent Town of Addison 972-661-1693 jdavis@addisontx.gov P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: David Wilde Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 9:14 AM To: Jerry Davis Cc: Clay Barnett; Robert Trevino; Jose T Flores; Phillip Kagarice Subject: RE: FYI Jerry, I have made it clear to every contractor that they need to order the correct meters at the beginning of their project so that they will have them when they need them. I understood our policy to be that we were no longer issuing “temporary” meters, nor were we providing meters to have them reimbursed by the contractor as this was too difficult to follow up. If that has been changed, please let me know. If meters are being supplied by the Utility Department without my knowledge, it seems to me to be a function of the Utility Customer Service to follow up. Please send me a copy of the updated procedures as there was no attachment on this email. David E. Wilde Town of Addison Public Works Inspector 972-450-2847 dwilde@addisontx.gov P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: Jerry Davis Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 6:13 PM To: Clay Barnett; Robert Trevino Cc: David Wilde; Phillip Kagarice Subject: RE: FYI Gentleman, we have had a procedure for new meter connection in place for some time now. I have just recently updated it again because change is inevitable. I realize contractors are not the easiest people to deal with but try to keep in mind to please notify these contractors of our procedure for new water connects (attached). Also, please notify these contractors that a meter and backflow inspection must be performed and satisfied before they request for a TCO. Once the contractor or owner has set-up an account and all backflow device have passed we can approve a TCO. Although it is preferred that a PW Inspector do the inspection, per your request Robert will check it out. Thank You Jerry Davis, Utilities Superintendent Town of Addison 972-661-1693 jdavis@addisontx.gov P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: Clay Barnett Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 5:16 PM To: Robert Trevino Cc: David Wilde; Phillip Kagarice; Jerry Davis Subject: RE: FYI Robert, Please do. They have applied for a TCO. If we are going to get the meters back, now is the time to pursue them. Thanks, Clay Barnett, P.E. Town Engineer Town of Addison 16801 Westgrove Drive Addison, TX 75001-2818 Office: (972) 450-2857 P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: Robert Trevino Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 3:59 PM To: Clay Barnett Cc: David Wilde; Phillip Kagarice; Jerry Davis Subject: FW: FYI Jerry had me deliver two meters, touch pad, on Monday 10/5/2009-I don’t know if they have mounted yet or not! Please let me know if I need to follow up on this. Robert Trevino Water Quality Specialist Town of Addison 972-661-1634 P Please consider the environment before printing this email -----Original Message----- From: David Wilde Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 3:35 PM To: Clay Barnett Cc: Robert Trevino Subject: RE: FYI RG Allen said that it was in process of being done when we were doing the walk-thru. Due to our hasty departure I could not verify at that time. I could ask Robert Trevino to check it out as he initially reported the problem and is familiar with what he wants. David E. Wilde Town of Addison Public Works Inspector 972-450-2847 dwilde@addisontx.gov P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: Clay Barnett Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 3:13 PM To: David Wilde; Robert Trevino Subject: RE: FYI Has this issue been resolved? Clay Barnett, P.E. Town Engineer Town of Addison 16801 Westgrove Drive Addison, TX 75001-2818 Office: (972) 450-2857 P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: Clay Barnett Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 4:42 PM To: David Wilde Subject: FW: FYI Dave, Can you please have this conversation with TMC? Clay Barnett, P.E. Town Engineer Town of Addison 16801 Westgrove Drive Addison, TX 75001-2818 Office: (972) 450-2857 P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -----Original Message----- From: Robert Trevino Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 3:56 PM To: Clay Barnett Cc: Phillip Kagarice Subject: FYI In reference to Texas Motor Cars 16000 Midway Rd. & Cotroneo Auto Group 16050 Midway Rd. I performed a CSI today, 08/25/2009, they have a Badger meter on both fire bypasses, with NO touch pad. Do I need to make them aware of this or will you get in contact with them on this situation? Robert Trevino Water Quality Specialist Town of Addison 972-661-1634 P Please consider the environment before printing this email