UPDATE — Brad Estadt of Johnson Instruments, right, discusses progress on the county’s water meter project during Thursday’s meeting of the Jefferson County commissioners. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — Employees of Johnson Controls Inc., the company the Jefferson County commissioners hired to oversee their water meter update, were at Thursday’s meeting to talk about the project, including a glitch with the satellite leak detection system they recommended and how they plan to address it.

Brad Estadt, a Johnson Instruments general manager, told commissioners there have been a couple of hiccups that they’re managing but overall, “the project is going very well — we’re on schedule. Costs, budgets, are right where we all hoped they would be.”

Roughly 8,000 homes and businesses served by Jefferson County Water and Sewer District are being replaced, an $8.5 million project that county officials say will lead to more accurate meter readings.

“The actual residential meter installation started in September, and we plan for that to run through March and be substantially complete (by) March,” he said. “The commercial meter installation starts roughly (early in December) and we plan to complete it at the same time, and then the network close out, where will be taking care of any details, any meters that aren’t reading in a fully automated way through the system. It’ll take a few months to make sure we’re 100 percent complete.”

He said if they can’t get the satellite leak detection technology to work in Jefferson County by the first of the year, they’ll switch to a traditional method at Johnson Controls’ expense.

“We have worked on that this fall, and that technology has not proven, so far, to deliver the results that we owe (you),” Estadt said. “So, our plan moving forward is to continue with that manufacturer to collaborate and see if we can make that (technology) work. And if we can’t, starting in January we’re going to do it the old-fashioned way, with the proven leak technology. It will be more expensive, but that’s on us.”

Jonathan Sgalla, assistant water and sewer district director, who will take over as director on Dec. 2, said if JCI pulls the plug on the satellite technology, they’d use a proven, “ground” technology from ME Simpson.

“Basically, they connect to the system valves and hydrants with an acoustic listening device,” he said. “When they get a positive leak, they then use a water detection correlater which is an electronic device that uses two sensors placed on a pipe to pinpoint water leaks by comparing the sound signature of escaping water. Typically, they can locate a leak within feet.”

Sgalla said the new system is already about 50 percent complete.

“The groundwork takes a significant amount of time with our system, likely months to complete over 300 miles of water line,” he said. “It’s also tough to do in the winter months — possible, but time consuming.”

He said a “few bumps” are to be expected in a project of that size, “(but) JCI is stepping up to make things right. The challenges we faced are minor, with the exception of the satellite leak location, and JCI is absorbing a substantial cost in utilizing ME Simpson to ensure a more reliable solution for the district.”

Acting on the recommendation of the Jefferson Health Plan, commissioners said they’re renewing their employee health insurance plan though there “may be some changes presented” at their next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Commissioners also:

• Approved Auditor E.J. Conn’s recommendation that they contract with the Local Government Services Division of the Office of the Auditor of State for the county’s FY 2025 annual comprehensive financial report. The cost of the report “is not anticipated to exceed $97,600,” Conn said.

• Signed off on the sheriff’s school resource officer agreement for the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School.

• Approved load limit reductions, effective between Feb. 20 and April 30, on various Saline Township roads.

• Announced budget hearings will begin the week of Dec. 8.