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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: David E. Schumacher, P.E.; Superintendent of Water Production
DATE: January 13, 2014
SUBJECT:
Resolution Authorizing the Upgrade of Hardware and Software Components of the Lime Slaking Control System for the Water Production Division.
PURPOSE:
To obtain City Council authorization for Tri-R Systems Incorporated (Tri-R), DeKalb, IL, to provide the necessary services for upgrading the control components, both hardware and software, of the Lime Slaking System (Slakers) at the City of Aurora Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
BACKGROUND:
The slakers at the WTP are one of many critical chemical systems utilized in the water treatment process. The slakers operate in an automated and continuous mode converting unslaked lime (calcium oxide) to hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) which is used to clarify and soften the raw water. The current slaker control system is more than 11 years old and is becoming unserviceable due to its age and unfortunate proprietary nature. Upgrading the system controls will assure reliable and continuous system operation and will greatly simplify and expedite future repairs/updates as the replacement components will be of a non-proprietary nature.
DISCUSSION:
The labor portion of the project, both installation and programming is highly technical and rises to the level of professional services. The proposal provided by Tri-R is all inclusive of those professional services as well as providing all needed hardware components at a cost of $65,600.00. Purchasing delicate and specific electronic components and assuming that they will function together correctly without overall coordination can lead to ongoing deficiencies. Thus, it is believed to be in the City's best interest for one entity to be responsible for not only the successful integration of all the individual components into an updated, functioning system, but to also have the same entity be responsible for providing the exact re...
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