Unknown individuals hanging a banner on the Arthur water tower has resulted in a hefty cost for local residents.
The township’s water and sewer committee report stated that during the annual inspection of the multi-legged water tower in Arthur, a possible safety concern was seen in that it was possible for someone to climb the legs of the tower.
Those concerns were realized last summer when someone climbed it to hang a banner – which was subsequently removed.
The municipality got a quote to enclose the legs. The bid from Landmark, which maintains the towers for the municipality, was $5,500 plus taxes for the work – to enclose the legs with steel.
“Since we are aware that people recently climbed the tower, liability is a concern.”
While the work was not planned, there was enough money in a maintenance budget to complete the work.
Following the committee’s recommendation to have the work done this fall, councillors endorsed that recommendation.
Works Superintendent Gary Williamson said the work was identified in a previous report to council, but that report was sent to the committee level for a recommendation.
“We shouldn’t wait until next year to deal with this,” Williamson said.
