Update 9/21/21
Classic Protective Coatings (CPC) began work in July to recondition our water tower at Commerce Court. The tank was drained and removed from service during the length of the project. The interior and exterior dry area were blast cleaned, primed and painted with fresh paint and an updated logo was finalized. The project is substantially completed a month ahead of schedule.
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About the Project
At the regular meeting on November 4, 2020, the City Council authorized reconditioning of the exterior and interior of the water tower at 390 Commerce Court and selected our consulting project engineer, Short, Elliott, Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) to provide design, inspection, and contract administration services on the project. Bids were accepted in April for the work and the contract was awarded to Classic Protective Coatings, Inc. of Menomonie, Wisconsin. Work began in mid-July and should be completed by September, weather permitting.
The 192.5 foot tall, 1 million gallon water tower was originally constructed in 1989. A recent inspection of the tower revealed failures in the form of advanced rust and corrosion that will be remedied with this work.
Total project costs are budgeted at $1,200,000. This is an expensive undertaking as a lot of work goes into reconditioning a water tower. All of the rust and corrosion, both interior and exterior, must be sandblasted off before priming and painting begins. A large shroud will be placed around the entire tower during the sandblasting, priming, and painting process. The existing paint will be removed with either abrasive sand or steel grit. Neither the existing nor new paint contain lead and is not harmful. The shroud is necessary and required to contain particles during the removal and repainting process to protect the project site. Reconditioning work on the water tower is being done in accordance with Minnesota Department of Health requirements and specifications prepared by SEH. The City will have an inspector on-site during the entire project. The paint color and our city logo will be updated. While the water tower is out of service, some residents may experience changes in water pressure and discoloration.
Contact our City Engineer, Jesse Farrell, at 651-204-6050 with questions or concerns about this project.
