03-26-2025 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO:Mayor Fischer and Members of City Council FROM:Chris Utech, Public Works - Utilities Supervisor Bill Dircks, Public Works Director DATE:March 26, 2025 RE:Booster Station Controls Upgrade ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Approve the proposal by TPC to upgrade the controls at the Booster Station in the amount of $43,548. BACKGROUND: The Booster Station pumps water from the St. Paul Regional Water Service treatment plant to the water tower. It was built in 1977 and still uses the original pumps along with some other original components. The main controls were upgraded in 2010 to utilize a laptop computer for operating the software that controls water tower levels and provides improved level monitoring. As with all technology, the main control devices have become obsolete and are no longer supported by current manufacturers. Additionally, advancements in control technology now allow for enhanced monitoring capabilities. The current controls require a laptop computer integrated with the control devices at the Booster Station to run the programs. The proposed updated controls will eliminate the need for a computer, reducing reliance on an additional piece of expensive technology that requires frequent updates or replacements to function properly. The remaining components will be upgraded to meet current UL standards. This proposal also includes updating the controls at the water tower with a larger panel that can enclose all electrical devices. Currently, not all devices fit within the existing enclosure, increasing their exposure to excessive cold and potential moisture. A key aspect of the controls is communication between the Booster Station and the water tower. The water level in the tower is transmitted to the Booster Station via a radio antenna system implemented in the early 2000s for better reliability. However, these radios are now obsolete. One of the companies providing quotes has offered to conduct tests to determine the best way to upgrade the antennae and radios. The other company did not provide this service and has no plans to update the antennae or radios. Two companies provided quotes for the project, which is included in the 2025 Water and Sewer Capital Improvement Plan – Fund 604. Besides the antennae and radio line item, the quotes are very much the same in work scope. Telemetry & Process Controls, Inc. (TPC) submitted a quote of $43,548. The quote includes the antennae and radio testing and potential upgrades. Dusk Systems provided a quote of $43,000 but it does not include the antenna and radio testing and upgrades. Staff believes the antennae and radios need to be tested and potentially upgraded so the TPC quote, while higher, should provide more value than the Dusk Systems quote. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends awarding the Booster Station controls upgrade project to Telemetry & Process Controls, Inc. in the amount of $43,548.