New pumping system, technology approved

Friday, Dec. 25, 2009

The Chesapeake Beach Town Council awarded Mackey Electrical Services Inc. of Huntingtown the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA, contract to set up 13 pumping stations throughout the town along with technology to report their data.

This contract was awarded at the council's meeting last week, following a comprehensive presentation from Steve Whelley, the director of engineering with Whel-Tech Inc. of Catonsville.

Whelley later explained that he represents Mission Communications of Norcross, Ga., through which Mackey purchases products.

Whelley explained that the technology will monitor the water level of each wet well and when they reach a certain point, turn on the pumping stations so the water will go onto the next stage.

He said that the water will go down-stream and eventually end up at a waste-water treatment plant and that the current system is "very expensive and getting outdated."

In his presentation at Thursday's meeting, Whelley displayed a graphic of Chesapeake Beach, which included the various pumping stations throughout the town.

"I think this will be a great diagnostic tool," said Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce Wahl of the technology that will be used for the wet wells. " … We can look at any historical data we want to; it will always be retained."

Whelley echoed this point, saying, "The system will get a report every day of a life of [each] pump station … this begins the return on your investment."

Town council member Ingrid Lamb asked approximately what the cost of the new system and technology would be and Whelley said about $23.50 a month.

"The idea is we provide a system that you own, rather than a system that owns you," Whelley said, adding, "I have never seen the cost of a service package go up; it's only gone down."

The contract was ultimately awarded to Mackey in the amount of $156,570, which Wahl said was $20,000 fewer than the other company from which he received a bid, though he said, "essentially the workforce scope of both bids was identical."

Wahl added that he has worked with Mackey in the past and was "very impressed with their work."

New carts added

to water park

The Chesapeake Beach Town Council also voted to approve the addition of two EZGO shuttle carts to the Chesapeake Beach Water Park, for a cost not to exceed $19,000.

"It's out of the water park budget and there's money available to do it," Wahl said.

Holiday crime down

Cpl. Jim Wahlgren of the Calvert County Sheriff's Office also announced that compared to previous holiday seasons, crime has been down this year in Chesapeake Beach.

"Compared to years past, we're doing quite well," said Wahlgren, who announced statistics including seven thefts, two burglaries, six property destructions, one DWI arrest, one assault and no robberies.

Wahl also announced that the town was prepared for the heavy snow coming during the weekend and said that he offered snow-moving services for every home owners association.

lbuck@somdnews.com