Not what it appears

The new paint scheme on Royal's water tower looks good from a distance, but close-up inspection indicates there may be problems.

The recent paint job came under scrutiny during the city council meeting on Sept. 13. Council members reviewed photos of the structure that was painted in June by Central Tank Coatings. Photos taken by Iowa Lakes Regional Water, the operator of Royal's water utility, indicate several issues due to not enough paint coverage.

According to discussion, there are exposed areas under the tank hatch, areas that were unpainted because the ladder was not moved, and new welds...