Some Thornbrook residents frustrated with proposed location of southwest Columbia water tower

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia Water Utility proposed the construction of a water tower on Beulah Ralph Elementary property near the end of Thornbrook Parkway, and some residents of the Thornbrook neighborhood in southwest Columbia are not happy with the city's proposal.

Resident Craig Murphy said he and neighbors recently received a letter from the city that states where the million-gallon water tower is being proposed.

"I can't imagine them building that this close to either two homes," Murphy said. "There's a house on the corner. It's going to be a matter of feet from this water tower."

Murphy said he has several concerns, beginning with the construction process.

“There's huge equipment, the cranes, where are they going to stage," Murphy said. "They’re going to stage on our street or they're going to stage at the school. We don't know. But they told me this  project was going to take approximately nine months to a year. Well that's a lot of chaos to put up with.”

Resident Marcy Thompson said the city may be creating a liability for themselves by building near school property.

“The kids run from school over to our street to their parents cars," Thompson said. "And I just don't think a water tower, regardless if there's a fence around it, would be the best for kids.”

Multiple residents ABC 17 News spoke with are worried a water tower would decrease the area's property value.

“I’ve had a couple realtors reach out to me and talk to me about it because they can't believe that it's going to be back behind our house,” Thompson said.

The new water tower was one of several projects included in a 2018 bond issue passed by Columbia voters.

The area has also faced many water issues over the years including water advisories and low water pressure. The Thornbrook subdivision experienced three water boil advisories in the span of two weeks in November 2023, according to previous reporting. Concerns about water usage in the area have persisted.

Julie Ryan, a Thornbrook resident and co-founder of the COMO Safe Water Coalition, said she is hopeful that the city's plans to build a water tower that supports the southwest portion of Columbia will come to fruition.

"We [the coalition] are concerned, however, that the delays for this project will be costly when it comes to design and construction," Ryan wrote in an email to ABC 17 News. "Our hope is that the interested parties will give enough information to explain why the Beulah Ralph site is the one being supported, as we know there are concerns from residents and school families."

The city identified land near two Columbia schools as possible locations for the new water tower in October - John Warner Middle School and Beulah Ralph Elementary School.

When the city presented plans to the school district, it said that Beaulah Ralph Elementary is the most-desirable location, and the least-expensive, according to previous reporting.

Thompson said the city is making the wrong proposal.

“If they have an area that's not already populated that will not affect property values, they should do that,” Thompson said.

The city said topography is the main reason the city chose the proposed location.

"Having the right location that is elevated enough for the water system to work properly really narrowed down where a tower could be placed in that area," said Jason West, who is the communications and outreach supervisor for the City of Columbia Utilities Department.

Murphy moved to Missouri nearly two years ago, and said his home in Thornbrook was his dream home.

“Had we known the water tower was going to go in, we would have never bought our home," Murphy said. "Never. I just think it's going to be a big eyesore.”

The city has not yet acquired land for the water tower's construction.

The City of Columbia Water Utility is hosting a public meeting to discuss the project 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 at City Hall.