WESSON – The town’s water department will receive new technologyin a handheld meter reader the board of aldermen agreed to buyduring its monthly meeting Tuesday.

“Basically, what the system is set up for is to cut down on yourrereads and make it more accurate,” said Larry Barrett of BBI Inc.,which sells the reading devices.

The handheld device will cost the town $3,000, but Mayor AltonShaw expects it to pay for itself after about a year.

According to Shaw’s estimates, the town will save $2,800 in ayear by using the more efficient device, which will free up one ofthe town’s two meter readers for other tasks.

It takes two employees about two and a half days to read thetown’s water meters, Shaw said. With the new device, it probablywill take about a day for one employee, Shaw said.

“It generally saves money in the long run, and it should lastseven to 10 years,” said Barrett.

After the meters have been read, the information will bedownloaded into a computer. The device has a 180-day warranty, andreadings are backed up with a five-year internal battery, saidBarrett.

Other advantages are that meter readings can be compared frommonth to month and the computer will show what time and date meterswere last read.

At their meeting, aldermen also decided not to put fluoride inthe water system. Shaw said the state Health Department sentnotification about the lack of fluoride. Aldermen acknowledged theletter and decided to keep the supply the same. Shaw said the townhas not added fluoride for years.

The town soon should be receiving more money with the hiring ofMississippi Warrant Network to collect on old fines.

“We have approximately $124,000 in outstanding court fines,”Shaw said.

There will be no charge to the town for the company’s services.Instead, Mississippi Warrant Network will charge the offender anadditional 25 percent to cover costs, Shaw said.

“It’s no expense to the town whatsoever,” he said.

Aldermen also voted to take up the stop signs on West RailroadStreet at the intersection with Seventh Street. Aldermen saidbecause the railroad crossing was closed the stop signs were not asnecessary.

A portion of Wool Street also was closed with the town keepingthe utility right-of-way. The section between Timberlane Road andSecond Street was not being used and ran through a field, saidShaw.