01-09-2012 Council Agemda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ufa- of / 9`dei Waneld' 515 Lade Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 5511.7 -1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 www.ci.little- canada.mn.us MEMORANDUM 'FO: Mayor Blesener & Members of City Council FROM: Bill Dircks, Public Works Superintendent DATE: January 6, 2012 RE: Water Tower Railing Replacement MAYOR Bill nleseter COUNCIL Rick Montour John Reis Michael McGraw Shelly Boss ADMINISTRATOR Joel R. Hanson AT &T is replacing their existing antennas on the water tower and adding some additional antennas as agreed upon this past summer. The installation of the new antennas called for the addition of a tripod structure for each one. Each tripod would require separate welds on the tank and would make for a messy appearance on top of the tower. S.E.H. is performing the inspection work for the project and they suggested we replace our existing railing with a newer, larger diameter railing that can accommodate all of the antennas and provide a safer area on top of the tower for people to work. The proposed railing would meet and exceed OSHA standards. This work would have been done when the tank is rehabilitated in 3 -5 years. Now it can be done now and we can avoid the extra tripods being mounted to the tank. In talking to the engineer at S.E.H. the proposed railing is the standard railing installed on tanks due to its ability to host a number of antennas. The old railing systems were built to protect people as they moved from the manway to the vent. Now, tanks have much more equipment placed on top of them and a larger railing system is necessary for improved safety. See the attached pictures of our current railing and the proposed system. The work would be performed by the contractor for AT &T and the cost would be split between the City and AT&T. S.E.H. has designed and inspected a number of these railings and has estimated the cost of the railing to be $15,000. The City's share would likely be $7500. That would include removal of the old railing and relocation of the existing antenna structures to the new railing. Staff recommends the City Council approve the installation of a new railing on top of the water tower to better accommodate antennas and provide a safer work area at a cost to the City of $7500.