Staff Writer

NEW ULM — The airport water

tower will receive a thorough scrubbing.

The Public Utilities Commission

Looking from below, the mold pattern resembles the underside of a mushroom.

authorized a $9,500 from Maguire

Iron, Inc. to clean the exterior of the

tower. This cost was included in the

2022 budget.

The airport water tower has not

been cleaned since it was repaired and

repainted in 2015.

Over the last seven years algae

growth, mold and mildew has built up

on the exterior lower half of the tank.

Commissioner Seth Visser asked if

there was a reason the tower showed

dirt more than other community water

towers.

Utilities Director Kris Manderfeld

said it was likely due to recent construction

and infrastructure in the

area. Condensation forms on the bottom

section of the tower, wind blows

dust to the tower, which sticks to the

tower. This leads to mold and mildew

growth.

Manderfeld said the dirt on the

tower did not become noticeable until

the last two years.