The Arnold City Council won’t try to stop the painting project underway that is changing the iconic Arnold water tower from green to blue.
However, Ward 1 Councilman Jason Fulbright said the council will urge Public Water Supply District No. 1, which owns the water tower and ordered the change of colors, to listen to the public in the future.
Fulbright spoke following a Thursday (Nov. 12) Arnold City Council meeting.
The water district is painting the giant water tower on the north end of town blue. The tower has been green since it was built in 1977. The color change brought complaints and a petition drive by those opposed to painting the tower blue.
But for the city to fight the painting project now, Fulbright said, would likely require legal action.
“We are not interested in a pursuing a court action,” he said. “We are not issuing a stop-work order at this time.”
On Oct. 1, the Arnold City Council established a Historic Preservation Commission to preserve buildings, landmarks and areas for their “historic, cultural, aesthetic or architectural significance.” Fulbright led the effort to create the commission and is serving as the council’s liaison to it.
At the Nov. 12 meeting, the City Council voted to change one word in a section of the ordinance that allows stop-work orders – “shall” is now “may” – but the change will have no effect on the water tower paint project, Fulbright said.
“We are not going to stop work or force the public water supply district to paint it green,” he said.