Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Hope is to make wording more readable
Hartley's water tower was scheduled for cleaning and touchups this year, but the city council recently voted to delay the project until 2021 so the structure can get a revamped design.
The old scale house underneath Hartley's water tower was built in 1960. Out of use for several years, it's slated to hit the ground sometime this summer.
Hartley's old jail was built in 1940.
Hartley's water tower will look slightly different sometime next year.
The council on Monday agreed to proceed with plans to tweak its design. Council Member Jerry Olson proposed changes last month, noting the current cursive lettering is too thin and hard to read from afar.
"Right now you can't tell what town it is when you're driving through," he said.
The water tower's current design was painted in 2010. It was due for cleaning and touchups this year, but that work will be postponed to 2021 to accommodate the changes.
According to discussion, the plan is to keep the heart logos but put bolder, more legible lettering off to the side. Detailed designs will be created in the coming months.
"It is hard to read right now and it doesn't jump out to you like some other towns do," said Council Member Ron Hengeveld.
Superintendent of Public Works Jaron Benz said the changes will cost a minimum of $6,000.
• City buildings to be demolished
Two buildings near the water tower will hit the dirt some time this summer.
The council accepted a bid from Schmillen Construction, of Marcus, for $19,000 to demolish the old scale house and city jail. The scale will also be removed.
The jail was built in 1940 and scale house was erected in 1960. Raveling, Inc., of Melvin, also submitted a bid of $50,500 for the demolition project.
Additionally, the council accepted a bid of $1,640 from Hartley Backhoe & Construction to demolish a garage at 240 2nd St. NW. The city took ownership of the abandoned property in 2018 and the garage is the only building on the lot.
