Charles County's water towers could get new paint jobs

Select water towers in Charles County could be getting facelifts.

Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II (D) prefaced a presentation at the May 14 commissioners’ meeting on putting county logos on water towers by saying, “This was a request for review based on my observations in Ocean City. Seeing how water towers were used as an effective tool to promote the town of Ocean City and the area in general.”

Martin Harris, the director of the Charles County Department of Public Works, Charles Strawberry, the capital services program manager, and Kelly Robertson-Slagle, the director of the economic development department, led the presentation on feasible locations and sample pricing.

Robertson-Slagle shared viewpoints from an economic development perspective, saying, “Commissioner Collins, you nailed it with the Ocean City water logo. … When you see that water tower you know you have arrived at the beach.”

She delivered a recommendation, from an economic development viewpoint, for the Bryans Road water tower.

“It does provide a strategic location,” she said. “It is literally at the entrance of our Western Charles County technology corridor.”

The staff suggested logo for the water tower would be the technology corridor’s logo.

If the commissioners did choose to move forward with the project, Robertson-Slagle said that it could even help with the promotion of local businesses surrounding the technology corridor.

Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling (D) asked about the new water tower, scheduled to be built in Cliffton. He wondered if that proposed site would have visibility from Route 301, as it could provide a great location for those coming into the state over the Potomac Bridge between Virginia and Maryland.

Strawberry said that the tower is to be built along Cliffton Drive, and that they may use a balloon to see visibility from the highway.

The idea was floated that the Cliffton water tower may be emblazoned with “Welcome to Charles County.”

Commissioner Amanda Stewart (D) said, “What went through my mind was remembering as a little kid, in the car, driving down [Route 4] and I knew what I was looking for … I was looking for the water tower at the hospital.”

Stewart said moving forward, looking at newer water towers, maybe they would want to look at making water towers taller to allow for the possible branding.

Commissioner Ralph E. Patterson II (D) asked about the upkeep of the potential project and how often they would need to be maintenance.

“We’d repaint them every 12 to 15 years,” Strawberry said.

Painting a water tower could cost anywhere from $25,000 to $45,000 depending on the complexity of the design.