Humboldt council approves $261,320 water payment, $138,500 AMI meter-lid change order and adopts single paw tower logo

Humboldt’s City Council on Jan. 12 approved several steps advancing the city’s multi-year water system overhaul, including a $261,320.30 pay request to NPL Construction and a $138,500 change order to add 277 AMI-compatible meter lids.

City Administrator Cole Herder asked the council to approve pay request #22-1372 application #3 to NPL Construction for work on the distribution system; Councilmember Blake McDaniel moved the payment and Councilmember Crawford seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Herder also asked the council to approve Change Order #1 on project #22-1372 to purchase and install 277 meter lids that are compatible with the city’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system at a cost of $138,500; Councilmember McDaniel moved approval and Councilmember Staci Johnson seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Herder described ongoing construction activities in the northeast part of town — locating utilities, directional boring for new lines and planned meter updates — and said residents will receive door-hanger notices when service connections will interrupt service. He also said the city is finalizing an order for AMI gas meters and Meter Interface Units (MIUs) to begin a systematic citywide installation.

On the water tower rehabilitation, Herder said the project will address safety and regulatory issues, including replacing an undersized access pipe and repairing deteriorated structural supports. The council discussed logo options and postponed a final logo decision to Feb. 9, 2026 during initial discussion, then voted (motion by John Lassman, second by Blake McDaniel) to accept a single paw logo for the tower; the vote carried unanimously.

The council’s approvals are part of a broader $16 million water project described by Herder as ongoing through 2027; Herder said all lead services up to the meters will be replaced prior to any applicable federal mandate. The council did not record any roll-call vote details beyond unanimous passage on the items.