Planning continues on water tower location

by Doug Hanson
The City of Gibbon continues to do its research into the best location for its new water tower. A site near the former South 80 Ballroom on the east end of 11th Street
has been the leading site for the 100,000-gallon tower.
City Administrator Dana Lietzau has been asked by the City Council to meet with owner Pat Reinhart to discuss an option agreement on purchase stipulations. Cemstone, which owns property just south of the railroad tracks near First Avenue, has offered the City a very good price on its property. Cemstone is planning to draft a purchase agreement for the City to review. This property could also be a possible site for a water tower.
Finally, two lots on the corner of First Avenue and 12th Street were looked at again. The owner of one of the properties is looking at tearing down the house, leaving a bare lot with the exception of a garage by the alley. Comments by the Council and Engineer Bryan Petzel were that this would be an ideal area for the new water tower.
However, the City would most likely need to use eminent domain to obtain the properties.
The recently completed feasibility study on the first site was completed and the next step would be to apply for funding and to do the preliminary design of the tower. The complete cost of the engineer work, starting with the funding assistance and preliminary design was quoted at $303,000. The Council decided to wait for more information on the possible sites before moving forward.

For the complete story, check out the September 10 issue of the Winthrop News.