DeKalb City Council members could not decide Monday night whether to seek bids for city well repairs or award the contract to a company that has long maintained the wells.

Layne-Western, a firm that drills, repairs and maintains DeKalb’s deep-well systems, estimates a “worst-case scenario” costing the city $104,000.

Of the five council members present, three supported waiving the formal bidding, while two spoke out against the waiver.

Third Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan said the city should keep the bidding open.

“It may or may not save money, but it’s worth trying under the circumstances,” Kapitan said.

Layne-Western’s estimate does not include the $10,000-$25,000 cost of shocking the well with chemicals, if needed.

Bryan Faivre, assistant director of public works, said City Well No. 12, at Fairview Drive and South Annie Glidden Road, is pumping water at about half its capacity. He said he could not explain its diminished productivity.

In order to determine the cause of the problem, the well would have to be pulled out and examined. Layne-Western estimates doing this and returning the well to service would cost about $22,000.

Well pumps should be evaluated every 10 years. The No. 12 well pump has not been checked since 1990, Faivre said.

Aldermen said they should continue to look into bids from other companies.

If the problem is not taken care of, other wells in the city will eventually have to pick up the slack, Faivre said.

Faivre said he feels Layne-Western is extremely familiar with the local well systems, has provided quality service in the past and it makes sense for the formal bidding to be waived.

In other meeting news, the council approved an ordinance that would maintain the mayor’s annual salary at $25,000.

The council also approved the placement of two speed display signs along North Annie Glidden Road both north and south of Lucinda Avenue.

The bid was given to Virgil Cook and Sons, Inc., for $19,960.

DeKalb resident Mike Verbic said measures needed to be taken to reduce speed on that stretch of road, but perhaps less expensive alternatives could be found.

He said he thought putting in signs that would gradually reduce the speed limit would cost less and have a greater influence on drivers.