CANFIELD — Discussions between the cities of Canfield and Youngstown about water rates have picked up after being on hiatus in 2020.

Canfield City Manager Wade Calhoun and Harry L. Johnson III, Youngstown’s water commissioner, said specific details for the talks have yet to be nailed down.

Canfield purchases its water from Youngstown. The contract was signed in November 2017 and took effect Jan. 1, 2018.

“We’re looking to benefit both cities” and how the partnership can continue, Calhoun said Friday, following a discussion Thursday.

Calhoun said conversations to renegotiate the terms of the agreement between both cities came to rest before shutdowns last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the biggest talking points will be amending the current rate structure, Calhoun said.

For the first 10 years, there are 7.75 percent increases, then for years 11 to 20 the amount is increased 3.5 percent per year.

The decision to revisit the 20-year contract so early is because Johnson saw an opportunity.

“I thought there might be an opportunity for Youngstown and Canfield to work together,” looking at various ways to improve the contract, Johnson said.

Neither Johnson nor Calhoun explained the extent of their discussions, both saying that talks are “in the infancy stages.”

AUTOMATION

Calhoun said that once Johnson reached out, discussion about an automated meter system in Canfield came about. A meter reader now goes into houses to read the meters manually.

But Canfield is in the process of installing an AMI system, or Advanced Metering Infrastructure, as part of a pilot program, Calhoun said. Each meter is about $300.

The pilot program was made possible through federal CARES Act monies, Calhoun said. The CARES Act funding, about $200,000, will purchase 250 meters and limit interaction between the meter readers and residents, Calhoun said.

New software, along with installation of the meters, will continue over the next month or two, with the program rolling out in April or May. The pilot program is anticipated to last about one year, Calhoun said. In that time, the city will be able to troubleshoot any issues with the meters.

Once the pilot program ends, annual budgets would be used to update the meters in the rest of the city, which will likely be done in increments, Calhoun said. It’s anticipated it will take between three and five years to switch the meters.

Canfield now has about 3,500 utility water accounts.

The new technology will also help the city pinpoint discrepencies as well as broken pipes.

Another positive with the meters that the city is working toward is monthly billing. Canfield sends its water bills quarterly.

afox@tribtoday.com