BOONE, Iowa—The Boone City Council learned Monday that the painting of the water tower at First and Clinton has been halted until testing of paint samples can be completed. The company painting the water tower, Utility Service Company from Perry, Georgia, has completed the interior work and the city has addressed other equipment issues like valve replacement, but when work on the exterior of the water tower began another issue showed up.
Pressure washing the exterior removed more layers of paint than originally expected. Work was halted and samples have been taken for testing. Dan Scott, City Engineer and Utility Superintendent told the Council that test results will determine the next step. He said that the water tower had been painted silver at one time and testing is being done to determine if that paint contained lead. Scott said it may require that the current painting project be halted and rebid for a more extensive project. The more extensive project would require containment due to lead in the paint being removed and would be estimated to cost over $1-million.
