By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
The Orland City Council plans on Tuesday to consider the aesthetics of the million-gallon water storage tank currently under construction.
The tank, reportedly measuring something like 80 feet by 35 feet, is to be located on the east side of Sixth Street, between Sixth Street and the railroad tracks, near Colusa Street.
The city council previously expressed interest in enhancing the appearance of the tank with artwork and landscaping.
According to the material accompanying the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, “The contractor needs direction at this time as to the base color for the steel panels that will soon begin to be welded into a tank form. He suggests a light color to reduce inadvertent water heating during the hot summer months.”
At its February 12 meeting, the Orland Arts Commission considered the fact that “the tower will be composed of welded steel panels which will go up one at a time in March. Galvanized steel presents a much more complicated surface preparation painting a mural. This highly specialized prep process … is more costly and presents more risk for the durability of the artwork.
“At this point in time, we need to decide on whether to forgo a mural and let our concentration center on landscaping aesthetics, along with the wrought iron fencing we already approved (as opposed to chain link). These two factors can create a very pleasing visual aesthetic for the project, with less deterioration over time.”
In the city council’s material for Tuesday’s meeting, it is pointed out that the arts commission recommends “No mural – due to the welded steel panel construction.”
The commission also favors that the tank be painted “lemonwater”, the color shown at the top of this story.
The commission “reserves recommendation on landscaping at this time.”
City staff says, “The base color has no fiscal impact as the grant-funded project includes a one-color exterior treatment. Additional colors, artwork, and/or landscaping would be at City Water Fund expense.
The city council meeting is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, at the Carnegie Center, 912 Third Street, in Library Park.
The Glenn County Observer 