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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Mark Phipps, Engineering Coordinator
DATE: June 15, 2020
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing the execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Aurora and the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District regarding the performance of water connection inspections.
PURPOSE:
To update an existing Intergovernmental Agreement.
BACKGROUND:
The City and Fox Metro Water Reclamation District (Fox Metro) first entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for water connection inspections in 1998 in order to prevent duplication of service, reduce costs, streamline service, and utilize personnel effectively. Since Fox Metro inspects sewer service connections for new development and redevelopment within the City limits, and since many sites with a new sewer service connection also have a new water service connection that requires inspection, the City benefits from Fox Metro's licensed plumber inspecting both service connections at the same time.
DISCUSSION:
The fee per inspection the City pays Fox Metro for water connection inspections has only increased by $5.00 since 1998. The updated IGA would increase the fee from $20.00 per inspection to $30.00 per inspection and allows the fee per inspection to increase by $5.00 after every 5 years. The updated IGA would also expand Fox Metro's scope of services to include the inspection of repairs to water service connections and fire hydrant leads.
The Illinois Plumbing Code requires inspection by a licensed plumber for the installation and repair of water service connections and fire hydrant leads. Since the licensed plumbers in the Division of Building and Permits are working at capacity, the alternative to updating this IGA would be hiring plumbing contractors for these inspections. For comparison purposes, the Water & Sewer Maintenance Division received bids in October 2019 for on-call plumbing services and the hourly rates ranged between $120.00 and $160.00. It is unli...
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