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Contractor reports Black Mountain water-tank work on track despite wind delays; steel expected in April
Summary
Project manager reported progress on the Black Mountain 500,000-gallon water tank: foundation and pedestal work underway, insulation and testing procedures in place, steel tank pieces expected early April and operational target remains October under the current contract.
A project manager for the Black Mountain water-tank construction told the Wheatland City Council the contractor has been on site since November and has completed most civil phases, is currently in the concrete-pedestal phase and expects the steel tank sections on site in early April.
“Landmark is the company that's building the tank. They've been on-site. They hit the ground running in early November,” the presenter said. The project team described construction details: a large reinforced concrete pedestal that will support a 500,000-gallon tank, multiple concrete lifts with quality-control testing (24-hour, 3-day, 7-day and 28-day tests), and remote temperature monitoring for each lift. The contractor uses insulated, fiberglass-faced forms and internal forced-air heaters after pours to control curing temperatures.
The presenter said wind has slowed work; tarps and insulation on site were shredded during high winds and crews have been recovering debris. “Anything over 30, 35 miles an hour, they shut down,” the presenter said, and the contractor's safety inspector — described as an experienced safety professional — has tight safety controls.
The contractor will weld most of the steel tank on the ground, coat it, then jack it into place. The presenter said steel is expected on-site early April and coating work is planned for late summer, which requires hot, dry conditions. The project remains on schedule for operation by October, the end of the contractor’s current contract, though the presenter noted some work is progressing more slowly than originally anticipated.
Council members asked about maintenance access and winterization. The presenter described an internal access tube, platforms and ladders meeting safety spacing and fall-protection requirements, a tank insulation system, heat tracing on inlet piping and a 24/7 mixer inside the tank to reduce stratification. The presenter also noted the town is exploring an aesthetic paint scheme (Bulldog and bucking horse-and-rider motifs) to be applied; painting will use project funds already allocated and the final pricing is being determined.
The presenter said the contractor and the town plan to use a local electrician for electrical work at the site and are seeking local contact information to obtain competitive pricing.
