MONROE - Lead paint chips are not falling from the historic Lincoln Park water tower, according to the city's public works director.
The belief that lead paint chips were falling into the playground below the tower was part of the discussion at the Common Council meeting Tuesday, when aldermen narrowly passed a motion to have the tank repainted.
At Tuesday's council meeting, Donna Glynn of the Green County Historical Society, told the body lead paint chipping off the tower's water tank into the playground area below is a liability to the city, and that the tower had not had any maintenance since 1978, until the group stepped in.
Director of Public Works Kelly Finkenbinder said Thursday that City Water Utility Supervisor Mike Kennison inspected the playground area after residents contacted city hall and Mayor Bill Ross Wednesday about potential health hazards.
Finkenbinder said he contacted Lane Tank Company of Mosinee, which is the company council approved to do the sealing and repainting of the water tower's tank, and received verification that the paint was not chipping.
Arnold Napiwocki, owner of Lane Tank Company, told The Times Thursday that all paint deteriorates, but the paint on the Lincoln Park water tower is not a problem yet.
"The paint is not chipping to the extent that it is getting all over the place," he said. "But if nothing is done, it will start flaking."
The Lincoln Park water tower is getting close to that stage, Napiwocki said.
To repair the tower's painted surface he plans to use an encapsulating epoxy under the primer and aluminum paint.
During the process of sanding and cleaning the tower, any dust or debris created by will be sucked up, and fractures and rusted areas will be sealed.
The entire process "should give the tank a good 10-plus years," Napiwocki said.
Finkenbinder said the paint on the tower is only believed to be lead-based, but is being treated as if it is lead-based anyway.
"No amount of lead in our bodies is safe," said RoAnn Warden, director of the Green County Health Department. "Home interior paint from the 50s or earlier, we assume some is lead-based."
But she said the only way to know if paint is lead-based is to test it.
The belief that lead paint chips were falling into the playground below the tower was part of the discussion at the Common Council meeting Tuesday, when aldermen narrowly passed a motion to have the tank repainted.
At Tuesday's council meeting, Donna Glynn of the Green County Historical Society, told the body lead paint chipping off the tower's water tank into the playground area below is a liability to the city, and that the tower had not had any maintenance since 1978, until the group stepped in.
Director of Public Works Kelly Finkenbinder said Thursday that City Water Utility Supervisor Mike Kennison inspected the playground area after residents contacted city hall and Mayor Bill Ross Wednesday about potential health hazards.
Finkenbinder said he contacted Lane Tank Company of Mosinee, which is the company council approved to do the sealing and repainting of the water tower's tank, and received verification that the paint was not chipping.
Arnold Napiwocki, owner of Lane Tank Company, told The Times Thursday that all paint deteriorates, but the paint on the Lincoln Park water tower is not a problem yet.
"The paint is not chipping to the extent that it is getting all over the place," he said. "But if nothing is done, it will start flaking."
The Lincoln Park water tower is getting close to that stage, Napiwocki said.
To repair the tower's painted surface he plans to use an encapsulating epoxy under the primer and aluminum paint.
During the process of sanding and cleaning the tower, any dust or debris created by will be sucked up, and fractures and rusted areas will be sealed.
The entire process "should give the tank a good 10-plus years," Napiwocki said.
Finkenbinder said the paint on the tower is only believed to be lead-based, but is being treated as if it is lead-based anyway.
"No amount of lead in our bodies is safe," said RoAnn Warden, director of the Green County Health Department. "Home interior paint from the 50s or earlier, we assume some is lead-based."
But she said the only way to know if paint is lead-based is to test it.