Hamburg, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Hamburg Town Board is taking a small bite out of restoring the town's water tower.
The town supervisor tells WBEN the structural integrity of the tower needs to be assessed before any painting work can begin that would transform the structure into the likeness of a giant hamburger.
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Supervisor Randy Hoak says the town board recently approved some funds to assess the structural integrity of the water tower. A committee unveiled its rendering of choice for a painting of the tower, but Hoak says nothing has been approved yet. "Regardless of what it needs, what it will be painted, as it needs to be painted," says Hoak. "Currently, it exists as an eyesore, and the town board is looking to cover that, to resurface the structure. So it's more aesthetically pleasing to folks that pass by."
Hoak says it will likely cost $500,000 to have the structure repainted. "First, we want to make sure that it's safe to do so that's why we're doing the structural integrity assessment, just to make sure that the method in which the contractors are available to paint the structure is safe, and we can move forward and exploring that option," explains Hoak. Hoak says whatever funds the Hamburg water tower project brings to the table and the private funds that were raised for the artwork would then overlay the paint job that the town of Hamburg would be providing.
Hoak says once the town is able to identify the funding for painting, then the board will work collaboratively with the water tower project to look at options to add the artwork to the structure. "I would say this is something that if all goes well, we'd be looking at in 2024." predicts Hoak.