Board approves construction agreement for new 1,000,000-gallon elevated water tower

The Board of Aldermen approved Resolution R25-41 to enter into an agreement for construction of a new 1,000,000-gallon elevated water tower. City staff told the board the selected firm, identified in the presentation as Gerard, was the “lowest and best bid.”

City staff said the tower will be built adjacent to the existing tower on Tire Road and will increase capacity to meet fire-flow requirements and support eastward development. “Gerard is the company that was the what we believe to be the lowest and best bid on that,” a city staff member said during the discussion.

Aldermen asked whether the new tower would also serve planned development to the north and east. Staff replied the sizing and location were modeled for anticipated growth to the east and that, while the tower accounts for planned development eastward, extensive future growth to the north could require additional facilities because elevation changes affect pressure. The new tower’s 1,000,000-gallon capacity is double the capacity of the existing Tire Road tower, which staff described as about 500,000 gallons.

Questions during the discussion touched on whether annexation or land purchases were pending to the east; staff said there was nothing to report and no annexations at this time. The board approved the resolution by voice vote.

The resolution authorizes the city administrator to enter the construction agreement; staff said the project will help meet fire-flow requirements and provide capacity for future development to the east, though more northern growth could require separate infrastructure due to elevation limits.