Matt Schultz, supervisor with Viking Industrial Painting, presented a condition assessment of Willard's three water tanks and urged the advisory board to adopt a maintenance-based approach to tank care rather than one-off repairs.

Schultz said the company inspected the town's lake tank near the school and the tank across from the public works shop and provided hundreds of photographs and technical notes. Schultz told the board the interior of tanks must be blast-cleaned to near-white steel and receive a zinc-rich primer and epoxy system; on the exterior, he said coating systems can be overcoated only for a limited period and that planning and prep work are critical to long life.

Why it matters: Schultz said proactive maintenance can spread cost, reduce emergency repair risk and extend the life of coatings. He described maintenance contracts that include annual inspections, washouts and smaller touch-ups so that major re-coating can be scheduled and budgeted rather than deferred until the tank delaminates and full replacement is required.

Key technical points Schultz raised included: interior surfaces should be prepared to near-white steel and use zinc primers and high-solids epoxy; the headspace above the water line is a corrosive zone because of chlorine and air exchange; the company recommends disinfected washouts every three to five years to remove sediment and biofilm; more aggressive coatings (described as high-end Series 700 systems) can deliver multi-decade performance when applied over properly prepared bare steel; mid-range overcoat approaches typically carry life expectancies Schultz estimated at roughly 12 to 14 years.

Schultz also pointed to several local causes of accelerated corrosion: multiple communications attachments on tank handrails and walkways, dissimilar metals welded to tank structure and legacy lead-based primers under later coatings in older tanks. "Do the right thing always," Schultz said when describing his company's core values and approach to rework and warranty work. He added that comprehensive maintenance contracts typically include emergency work and graffiti removal.

Board members and staff asked about procurement, warranties and inspection. Schultz said Viking can provide MACE-certified inspectors and third-party lab testing; he recommended that the city include clear specifications and consider both a top-of-the-line coating bid and a midrange bid so the city can compare life-cycle costs.

Next steps: City staff said Viking has helped prepare specifications and that the city will consider whether to include a maintenance contract in upcoming bid documents. Several board members thanked Schultz for the photos and recommended that staff present costed options at a future meeting.