CROTHERSVILLE
The only water tower in Crothersville soon may receive a fresh coat of paint and be placed on a general maintenance plan.
Chris Mains, the town’s street superintendent, recently told the town council that the 130-foot-tall water tower is 20 years old.
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The original coat of paint is chalking and flaking, and Mains said it’s going to rust if something isn’t done.
Mains, council members Danieta Foster and Chad Wilson and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Michele Teipen recently met with Mark Hansen, who works for SUEZ North America’s office in Indianapolis. That company provides water and waste recycling services to more than 7.5 million people in the United States and Canada, according to its website.
Mains said water towers typically should be painted every 15 years.
The costs is estimated between $150,000 and $170,000. SUEZ offers a program where the town could make monthly payments. It would cost about $4,800 per month for the first three years and then drop down to $1,800 per month.
“I think it’s worth looking at,” Mains said.
“Eventually, we’re going to have to fork out some money (to paint the water tower). It’s going to have to happen. It’s our biggest asset. That’s our money maker.”
Along with painting, the company would provide cleaning and routine maintenance of the water tower.
“If anything happens to the water tower, they come in and do that stuff and clean the inside out,” Mains said. “As you are making those payments, it’s already paying for the next water tower painting.”
The town currently has a company from Minnesota clean the inside of the tank every five years. SUEZ, however, would drain it out and clean it every three years.
Mains said the nearby communities of Medora and Vernon also have used SUEZ to take care of their tanks, so he would get their feedback.
He also is going to ask Hansen to attend the next council meeting to provide more information. That meeting is set for 6 p.m. April 4 at Crothersville Town Hall, 111 E. Howard St.