BP water tower emerges
It looked like a hot air balloon floating over the City of Blooming Prairie on one particular Saturday. In reality it was a new Blooming Prairie water tower being constructed to replace the old water tower which was built in the 1920sl. Staff photo by Howard Lestrud
Another landmark has been added to the Blooming Prairie skyline, joining BP High School’s new auditorium.
Basic construction of a 154-foot tower was essentially completed on Thursday, March 14 by the Maguire Iron, Inc. of Sioux Falls. Eric Bowers of New Brockton, Ala. was supervisor of the $1.5 million project.
Bowers had a five-man crew working for him. The tower tank will hold 100,000 gallons of water. The present tower holds 65,000 gallons.
Bowers’ father works for the same company as his son. “I started right out of high school,” he said. Bowers said he worked with his father for many years until he got his own crew this year.
“It’s a really adrenalin rush to see a water tower go skyward,” remarked Bowers.
Bowers and his crew watched the weather very closely this week. High winds would have scrubbed the job, but thankfully, Bowers said the job could move forward.
A huge crane from Meyerhofer Crane & Rigging Services of Grand Meadow raised four columns into the air, about 154 feet to its final destination.
The long columns stretching upward, reached 50,000 pounds on Maguire scales. The tank weighs 42,000 pounds.
The new Blooming Prairie landmark should be ready by June. 1, when the city unveils a 154-foot-tall, sphere-shaped water tower.
The old cone-shaped, silver tower will be history by mid-summer. Many of the water towers of yesteryear were built with the same cookie-cutter cone shape, said Jerry Mausbach, Blooming Prairie Utilities manager.
The tower is expected to be painted in early May. A special committee was appointed by the Blooming Prairie City Council to recommend that the city have a committee hold a contest to see who can come up with the best design.
Carol Iverson of Blooming Prairie placed first in the contest with her colorful flower design.
A water tower open house will be held later this year, said Mausbach.