Mount Vernon city administrator Chris Nosbisch said the radio water meter reads are at a 94.4 percent completion rate for the project. “

There were roughly 81 meters that did not get placed,” Nosbisch said. “Thirty-two of those were non-responsive and 36 needed additional plumbing work or a smaller meter to be installed, but weren’t finished before the contractor’s time ran out.”

Nosbisch said the city will be working with the 36 who needed additional plumbing or different-sized meters.

After those installations are completed, the city council will need to figure out how to get the remaining radio water meter reads compliant and installed. “I’m very happy with the work Ferguson did on this project to get us to just shy of 95 percent complete in the time they were contracted,” Nosbisch said.

Mayor Tom Wieseler asked if citizens should be worried about the lead service lines identified during the process.

Nosbisch said the city will send notices to those who had lines identified yearly, and a $20 test kit can identify if their water is safe.

“It’s like homes purchased that were built before the 1970s,” Nosbisch said. “There’s always a chance that you have lead paint on the walls.”