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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Ian Wade, Capital Projects Manager
DATE: August 10, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the Director of Purchasing to enter into an agreement with RS&H, Inc. of St. Charles, IL in the amount of $117,809 to design a repair to the wall between the Fox River and the city's canoe chute in downtown Aurora
PURPOSE:
To design the repair of a sizable void that has developed in the wall between the Fox River and canoe chute which has considerably worsened in the past few months due to flood stage river elevations resulting from recent significant storm events.
BACKGROUND:
The west dam on the Fox River and the adjacent canoe chute in downtown Aurora were most recently inspected by RS&H in late Fall 2025 as required by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the City's dam permit. A report with the results of that inspection was provided to the city and included a list of suggested repairs. At the time of this inspection, the subject void in the wall was determined to be approximately 1.5 feet long and only a few inches high and was recommended for repair to prevent erosion but was deemed "not yet a bearing concern for the wall" due to the steel encased concrete caissons keyed into bedrock which support the wall.
Since the time of that inspection, the void, and subsequent flow of water from the river into the canoe chute through the void, have increased considerably due to consistent flood stage river elevations. These high-water levels have not only exacerbated the issue but have prevented the city and it's contractors from being able to safely access the area to perform the smaller scale "seal and fill" repair originally proposed.
As a result of the increase in void size and extremely challenging lack of staging locations and access for equipment to deliver and install the sheet pile, coffer dam, and other materials required to make the repair, the comprehensive scope of design, permitting, and construction ph...
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