Minto to spend $275,000 on water tower paint job, cleaning

MINTO – The Clifford water tower will have a shiny new coat coming its way next year – and an expensive one at that.

At an Oct. 7 meeting, Minto council approved the repainting of the tower at an approximate cost of $275,000 to help extend the tower’s exterior coating an additional 10 to 15 years.

The tower was constructed in 2005 and provides 1,275 cubic metres of water storage capacity.

“In August we had an adhesion test done on the coating and it looks like it’s going to be a good candidate for an overcoat,” town water services manager Todd Rogers told council.

“As part of that process we’re also looking at doing a wash and clean of the inside.”

Typically Rogers would have brought the report to council during the budget process, but due to “limited contractors that do this work, and it typically happens in the spring, we’d like to get this out and tendered this year for next year,” he said.

Councillor Paul Zimmerman questioned whether the communication items on top of the tower need to be removed before painting.

“They don’t take them right down but they do definitely come off because there is a health concern there,” Rogers replied. “We do have to work with the telecommunication companies to have them turned off at certain points during the job.”

Council unanimously approved the project, which will allow staff to issue the tender this year, ensuring a contractor can be secured in advance of the 2026 work season.