Jackie Taylor | February 13, 2026

 

The Pleasanton City Council held a special meeting last Wednesday over concern of the condition of the roof covering the water plant. After the council meeting held Monday, Feb. 9, and word was heard that the roof could collapse if snow, wind, or other event put weight on the compromised entity, Jason Hoskinson, engineer with BG Consultants, was invited to attend the special meeting.

The engineer spoke to the council and opened with information that the block walls were “in pretty good shape, nothing alarming is there,” but continued that the roof was “not quite what I’d expected to see today.”

He continued, “A number of rafters are cracked,” and gave a report that said the date of the last roof repair or re-roofing was unknown, framing of the roof appears to be two-inch nominal framing lumber, it does not appear that there is a ridge board/beam at the peak of the roof, the column near the center of the roof is not plumb and is leaning south and west – three to four-inches out of plumb.”

He continued that city staff reported the gap at the top of the beam, on the west side of the column, has opened up in the past six months.

The report stated, “Based on our initial site observation and review of photos among our staff in the office, we are concerned with the condition of the structure and safety of occupants inside the structure. Portions of the roof structure have failed, resulting in the redistribution of load to other structural members and possibly stressing portions of the structure beyond their original design.”

Hoskinson said about the beam, “If the column fails, the roof will come down. The beam has opened up over the last six months.”

He continued that snow loads, etc. have caused the shift and compromised the structure. “I’m not sure what it’d take to come down; it’s trying to hold itself up and a load could increase the risk of failure.”

“If it comes down, you’re out of the water business – it’s contaminated,” he said.

With that he gave options for the council to look at.

“First, build a new building if time and money were not issue,” he said. He continued that with the square footage of the building; he estimated $1.5 to $2 million, plus $2 million for equipment and upgrades. “Water piping would take three years,” he concluded. “I don’t know if the roof will support two more winters; time is not on your side.”

Next, he said, “Replacing the roof is not a bad option.”

He estimated $100,000 to $150,000 and said, “There is no backup water supply. Logistics are a challenge and the costs associated.”

Hoskinson said the ideal solution would be to shore up the structure and provide additional bracing.

“Beef up the column and buy time to implement a repair budget,” he said.

He suggested the city look at pre-engineered trusses, built off-site and brought to the location. “They can be installed in one day; put the sheeting on and roof in another two days.”

Construction would be hinged on water use and storage. He suggested keeping the tower at 100 percent full and keeping water usage to a minimum. Later in the meeting, water plant employee Josh Ralle told the council that they can’t use 100 percent of the water in the tower or risk losing pressure in the lines; he said 80 percent usage at most. Ground storage would supply another day giving the city two, to three, days water usage total if the plant were shut down.

Hoskinson spoke about a CDBG grant and said there are urgent need grants out there but they require an event causing failure to use them; the water plant roof damage was caused by lack of maintenance creating the issues they’re seeing today.

He continued that putting the roof on might have to be paid through utility rates.

The steps required to repair or build the new roof/water plant would be, according to Hoskinson, write a PER (preliminary engineering report) then see if the city wants to include lake upgrades, the plant and town infrastructure and see where the council wants to be in 10, 20 and 40 years into the future.

Mayor Mathew Young said, “Even if we’re switching to Public Wholesale Water Supply District #13 (PWWSD#13), we have to do something with the building roof to support it.”

Hoskinson told the council, “If there is a way to establish a back-up water supply; the logistics would be easier. It has to be permitted, applied for the KDHE, and temporary bracing and shoring up to do the roof replacement.”

After discussion of moving wiring, etc. in the building, Young asked Hoskinson on timing and the engineer said, “My firm’s ready to go. We’ll do the design and bidding; we’ll get a contract for services to the city by the Tuesday meeting.”

He estimated that temporary bracing plans could be in place in one to two weeks, “maybe a month,” and three months to get the roof replaced. “It’s weather dependent on this type of work.”

Councilman Alex Wills asked if it was best to have an emergency hook-up from someone else, i.e. PWWSD#13, and Hoskinson said redundancy is good. He estimated one year for permitting through KDHE to hook up to another water supply, “but they might expedite it if they know the community is in trouble.”

Councilwoman Sandy Haynes asked if there are grants out there, mentioning that the city is already paying on a grant.

Hoskinson said that a grant would not pay for 100 percent of the repair or upgrade.

More discussion on the procedure to go forward was incurred with City Attorney Jacklyn Paletta stating, “Since the water plant is the sole source of water for the whole community…it’s a liability for an unknown amount of time.”

She also mentioned sewage and sanitation would be an issue and said, “The ability to deprive the entire community of potable water is an immense liability to the entire community.”

Hoskinson said he’d get a contract for services to the council Tuesday and Wills said he’d like to see the council work on an alternate source of water during the process.