Roger Kelso
Columbus City Utilities is planning a $14 million project in south Columbus to add more elevated water storage.
The Columbus Board of Aviation Commissioners has voted to allow the utility to lease a one-acre parcel at the former Walesboro airport for the purpose of building a water tank, said Columbus Municipal Airport Director Brian Payne.
According to Payne, the initial term of the lease is 20 years, with two 10-year renewal options. The rate is $2,000 per year. He added that the lease is not technically official until the Utility Service Board approves it as well.
The board is expected to vote on the lease at this Thursday’s meeting, said Columbus City Utilities executive director Roger Kelso.
Kelso said that the tank will likely serve the southern half of the city. The project is expected to cost just over $14 million and will be funded through State Revolving Fund bonds.
Construction will take about 18 months, depending on the weather, he said. The hope is that ground preparation will begin in late May or early June, with construction likely beginning in mid-June.
“It’s an exciting project just because we’ll have more storage in the air — which, when you have electrical outages or you’re trying to just smooth out any pressure variations in the system, it’s just a great asset to have,” said Kelso.
