Demolition of CL water tower moves forward

CLEAR LAKE | The City Council approved a professional services agreement with Veenstra & Kimm, a Mason City engineering firm, Monday night to facilitate the demolition of the water tower near Four Winds Drive.

The decision put an end to speculation about a Clear Lake man's proposal to renovate the 250,000-gallon multi-legged water tower into a private home.

Alvin Stecker, Clear Lake, told the council Monday night that he wanted to turn the tower into a personal residence for himself.

"All I am asking for is to be good neighbor to those in Four Winds," he told a large contingent of Four Winds residents and the City Council.

Council action came after approximately half a dozen Four Winds neighbors expressed concern about how the project might affect their property values, stall traffic with gawkers seeking to get a look at the water tower home and how fire and police would access the property 105 feet in the air in the event of an emergency.

The professional services contract calls for design, bidding and construction services related to the demolition of the north water tower. The total cost of the agreement is not to exceed $16,200.

The council approved the agreement 3-1 with Jim Boehnke casting the dissenting vote. Boehnke asked the council to table the issue and conduct a survey to see what the citizens of Clear Lake wanted done with the tower. Councilman Dana Brant was absent.

The new northwest water tower is set to be completed by November and brought online in December. Demolition of the existing tower will involve the deconstruction of the tank and legs, removal of the concrete foundation, capping the existing water main and restoration of the site.

The plan is to put the project out for bids in January with demolition beginning in February.

Landmark Structures of Fort Worth, Texas, built the new 1-million-gallon water tower at 1814 U.S. Highway 18 W.

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Demolition of CL water tower moves forward