Planning Commission Recommends $2 Million For Water Tank Replacement

The Inver Grove Heights Planning Commission Tuesday night recommended unanimously spending up to $2 million to replace the Asher Water Tower next year. 

According to IGH City Planner Allan Hunting, the City Council has already ordered the specs and plans to proceed with the project but needed the OK of the Planning Commission to move forward.

"The current tower is a standpipe, which is literally just full of water from the ground up. Those don't work well with water pressure. As the water level drops, water pressure drops," Hunting told to the Commission.  

Hunting also explained that the replacement project will follow the results of a 2002 study, which identified the future water needs in the northwest area of Inver Grove Heights.  

"The new tower might look something like the Arbor Point Tower," Hunting said. "It will help handle all the future needs of of the northwest corner of the city ... No more towers are expected to be constructed." 

Before approving the expenditure, Planning Commission Chair Tom Bartholomew asked whether the cost would include demolition.

Having received the figures from Public Works Director Scott Thureen just prior to the meeting, Hunting did not know if demolition is included or would be an additional cost.