Tuscaloosa committee creates AMI technician job classifications as meter conversion nears completion

A staff presenter told the Tuscaloosa City administrative committee the city is moving toward a full Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) conversion and proposed several related job classifications to support the new system.

"We are' I haven't looked at the numbers this week. 65 pushing 70% somewhere around there. We should be finished by hopefully by the end of the calendar year, but we're going to say first quarter of next year," the staff member said, describing the current stage of the meter conversion and the expected timeline. The presenter also said the proposed AMI technician positions are intended as career-path conversions and would not add new FTEs.

The committee voted to create a new AMI technician classification and a senior-level AMI technician classification; the senior role would require three years of service under city code and the meeting discussion noted performance metrics would determine advancement. The committee also approved a senior water technician classification to provide a path that combines fieldwork with customer-account interaction.

Members discussed training and internal transfers rather than hiring new staff: the presenter said existing meter staff will be trained and moved into the new classifications rather than creating additional positions.

What happens next: HR and department staff will implement the classifications and update job postings or internal promotion processes; no additional budgetary information was discussed at the committee meeting.