Cost of painting tower more than expected

Portales city councilors love the idea of painting the athletic names an logos of local schools on the city water tower to build a sense of community pride.

However, they're starting to balk at the estimated cost of the project.

The idea was pitched about a month ago at a Portales City Council meeting and the price, an estimated cost of $35,000 for the fanciest design, was discussed at Tuesday night's council meeting.

"It sounds like a lot of money," told Ward D Councilor Keith Thomas, one of the councilors spearheading the idea, to Public Works Director John DeSha.

DeSha agreed that it is but said it was a good price for the type of materials and paint they would use.

City Manager Tom Howell suggested the councilors create a committee to come up with a design they all agree on.

Mayor Sharon King said they should hold off on creating the committee until councilors are in agreement that this is something they want to do.

"We didn't decide we would do this," King said.

King added that she worries about getting a lot of people involved for an idea that may not come to fruition.

"I myself have a problem with spending that kind of money with the streets the way they are," said Ward A Councilor Michael Lucero. "Councilors have to justify that spending to their constituents."

King said with the possibility of it being voted down, she didn't want to take any more steps until they voted on it.

"I'd hate to get people fired up about it," King said.

DeSha added that there is plenty of time before they make an official decision because the work can't be done until next summer.

"To me it's just a point of community pride," Thomas said.

Thomas asked Howell would they still need council approval if they could get private funding for the project.

Howell told Thomas they would because it's the city's property.

King and the other councilors agreed to vote on the project at the next city council meeting, solely approving the concept but not a price.