The Florala Utilities Board is about to undertake its second major infrastructure project in two years – the installation of a ride-by wireless meter reading system for water and gas customers.

Bids are currently being sought for a company to provide approximately 1,020 residential and 40 commercial water meters, as well as 441 residential gas meters.

Earlier this month, the utilities board voted to fund the estimated $500,000 project through a loan with Regions Bank.

It currently takes approximately 160 man-hours per month to read the meters for billing. With the new system, that time will be dramatically reduced to one person spending approximately four to six hours a month to obtain the meter readings.