What’s in a (St. Michael Water Tower) Name?

How much does your local water tower mean to you? Obviously all residents on city sewer and water care a great deal about the water on the inside, but are you concerned with the what goes on the outside of the tower?

The water tower that sits just south of has always been without any wording on it, but now it is due for a repaint and most of St. Michael officials would like it to have the same wording as the tower on the east side of town: “St. Michael-Albertville Home of the Knights.”

However, the Hanover Mayor brought up that Hanover ought to have its name on the tower as well, since they are part of the joint powers system that brings water to all three towns. St. Michael uses-and thus pays for-61 percent, Albertville 30 percent and Hanover nine percent.

So instead of “Home of the Knights," the water board proposed having “Joint Powers Water Albertville, St. Michael, Hanover” on the tower instead. After much discussion, the water board voted 3-2 Monday night (with one Albertville representative missing) to use Hanover’s name on the water tower, but they decided to go back to talk with their respective city councils before finalizing a decision.

Councilmember Joe Marx, who is one of St. Michael’s two participates on the water board, was the decisive third vote to add Hanover’s name to the tower, voting along with the two Hanover board members.

“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” Marx said, noting that Hanover is a paying partner in the joint powers water system. He said he wanted to show support to Hanover to foster further collaboration with their southern neighbor on future projects.  

Councilmember Kevin Kasel put his two cents in, saying St. Michael gave up some of their taxable city land for the tower so they should have some additional say in what goes on it. Councilmember Nadine Schoen added that she really didn’t feel many Hanover taxpayers would be upset about not having their name on a water tower that isn’t even located in their town. Mayor Jerry Zachman and others brought up that, as Hanover grows, there will be a need for another tower on the south end of town, and they thought that tower would be a good choice to have Hanover’s name on it rather than the water tower that’s nearly on the border with Albertville, far from Hanover.

The city council majority agreed they would prefer a carbon copy of what is currently painted on the east-side water tower, “St. Michael-Albertville Home of the Knights,” noting the positive feedback it has drawn and the sense of community support for the school system Albertville and St. Michael share. Albertville will be taking up the issue at Tuesday’s regular council meeting.