St. Charles water tower to be repainted, repaired
The water tower on the west side of St. Charles will get a makeover this summer when the city spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the structure repaired and repainted.
The 1 million-gallon elevated water tank near Campton Hills Road and Main Street was built in 1985 and contains most of its original coat of paint. Cleaning and repainting the water tower, among other repairs, are important for preserving the structure and preventing the steel from rusting, said Tim Wilson, the city's environmental services manager.
"Our water towers are integral pieces of the water distribution system, so we need them to be in top condition inside and out," he said in a statement.
The water tower is expected to be repainted with an updated design - a white base, a red logo and lettering, and blue striping - to match the color scheme of a newer water tank near Red Gate Road, according to design plans.
Aldermen acting as a committee this week approved hiring Michigan-based Seven Brothers Painting Inc. to complete the repairs for $789,200. In addition to sandblasting and coating the exterior, the work includes spot painting and repairing the interior, completing maintenance to the foundation, replacing the tank vent, fixing the roof and upgrading safety requirements, Wilson said.
A tent-like cover will protect the surrounding area while the painting and repair work is completed this summer, Wilson said. Contractors are required to have a pre-construction meeting and submit a plan to address safety, he said.
"Our contract is written very tightly," he said. "There are a lot of safety requirements."
Dixon Engineering & Inspection Services, a Wisconsin company that completed the water tower's design engineering, is expected to oversee the construction and perform inspections throughout the project, he added. Aldermen this week supported a nearly $50,000 agreement with the firm for construction engineering services.
Between both contracts, the project is expected to come in more than $92,000 under budget, according to city documents.