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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Robert Leible, Superintendent of Water Production
DATE: November 9, 2026
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing the purchase of a new submersible well motor for the Water Production Division in the amount of $63,290.00.
PURPOSE:
To obtain city council authorization for the purchase of a new submersible well motor from Layne Christensen Company (Layne) 721 W. Illinois Avenue, Aurora, IL, in the amount of $63,290.00.
BACKGROUND:
In late 2022 Layne was contracted to perform equipment service and well rehabilitation for Well 103 under the terms of the Professional Services Agreement with Layne per Resolution No. R20-083. Layne completed a full inspection of the pumping assembly and determined that the pump condition was such that it could be rehabbed, however the motor was no longer viable for reuse and would need to be decommissioned. Televising of the well (borehole) unfortunately indicated that a collapse had occurred in the well's borehole, resulting in the subsequent abandonment of Well 103 in 2023. Layne did complete the rebuild of the pump and it will be installed in Well 119, which is currently out of service for similar maintenance.
Byron-Jackson/Flowserve motors were designed with a component known as a mercury seal (Type H), which serves to protect and seal the motor's internal lubrication oil from the water that is being pumped. Motors containing a mercury seal must be properly decommissioned and disposed of by the motor manufacturer per current Illinois law when the motor can no longer be rehabbed. Type H motors have been replaced with Type M motors which have a double mechanical seal versus a mercury seal.
DISCUSSION:
Layne has maintained possession of the motor during the timeframe since the well was abandoned and has requested that it be properly disposed of. The cost of decommissioning and disposal is $19,426.00. However, the motor has value as a trade-in for a factory rebuilt Type M motor of the same horsepower (75). The Water Production Division (WPD) routinely trades in old motors for factory rebuilt motors at a much lower cost than a virgin motor, but with the same warranty. In this case, the factory exchange motor price is $63,290.00, which includes the cost of decommissioning the old motor (proposal attached). As a comparison of the fairness of this cost, Layne recently bid $60,000 to furnish a factory exchange Byron-Jackson/Flowserve Type M motor for the Well 119 project but was not the overall low bidder for the entire project.
As the WPD is progressing through planned maintenance of other shallow wells similar to Well 103 including 119, 115, and 101, it will be beneficial to trade in this motor and receive a factory rebuilt motor to either be utilized in a subsequent well maintenance project or to serve as a spare. The WPD does not have a spare shallow well motor sized at 75 horsepower.
Funding for this purchase is available in the 2026 budget in account 510-4058-511-38-31.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
None.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Request committee and city council approval of a resolution authorizing the purchase of a new submersible well motor for the Water Production Division under the existing Professional Services Agreement.
cc: Infrastructure and Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the purchase of a new submersible well motor for the Water Production Division in the amount of $63,290.00.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Water Production Division requests to purchase a new submersible well motor from Layne Christensen to replace the decommissioned motor from abandoned Well 103; and
WHEREAS, Layne Christensen has provided a cost of $63,290.00 for a factory rebuilt motor that includes the cost of decommissioning the old motor; and
WHEREAS, budgetary authority is granted and funding is available in the 2026 city budget in account 510-4058-511-38-31.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Purchasing Director be and is hereby authorized to issue a purchase order in the amount of $63,290 to Layne Christensen for the purchase of a new submersible well motor.