The Troy City Council approved purchases for the Utilities and Environmental Services departments Tuesday totaling over $600,000.

The majority of that cost was for the supply and installation of 40 large water meters, which came in at $597,879 total.

Tim Ramsden, the lead engineer on the project, told the council this is part of an ongoing project the council began earlier. Although only 40 meters must be supplied and installed, Ramsden said these meters are much larger than the household residential meters.

“These meters are for industrial, commercial and larger residential areas,” Ramsden said.

The majority of the cost came from the supplying of the meters, which cost HD Supply for $407,979. Ramsden said the company was the lone bidder, likely because of the specific requirements that the department needed.

The remainder of the cost went to install the meters. The winning company was Central Plant Technologies, which is the company that has been replacing the small meters. They were the lowest of three bidders at $189,000.

Despite costing over half a million dollars, Utilities Manager Brian Chandler said the cost was “significantly” lower than expected. “We had anticipated it being several hundred thousand dollars more than what the bid came in,” Chandler said.

The council also approved a request by the Environmental Services Department for a new recycling baler for the cost of $82,834. Director Vaughn Daniels said $80,140 of that cost will be paid for though by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, leaving just under $2,600 left over to be paid.

“It’s always good when you can get a big expense and then almost all of it is taken care of,” said Council President Marcus Paramore.

The council also had a first reading of an ordinance that would approve the destruction of the old dog pound, the old wastewater treatment facility and a storage building from the old public works complex. Chandler said the destruction of the buildings could be handled by the utilities crew and would come at no cost to the city.

District 2 councilman Greg Meeks made a motion to appoint Roxie Kitchens to serve another term on the Troy Board of Education, which was unanimously approved by the council.

The next meeting of the Troy City Council will be held April 25 at City Hall. The executive committee meets at 4 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 5 p.m.

in the City Council Chambers.