Plans to repair and repaint Niles Township’s Fairfield Street water tower in a Brandywine maroon and gold theme are moving forward.

On Monday, the Niles Charter Township Board of Trustees awarded the contract for the project to Lincoln Park’s George Kountoupes Painting Company, which specializes in painting and repairing water storage tanks.

Treasurer Jim Ringler said the company submitted the low bid of $505,500.

“We figured it would come in around $500,000,” said Ringler, adding that the work would be paid for out of the township’s water fund. “We’ve been setting aside money to do that (repainting project).”

The paint job will include two images of the school district’s Bobcat mascot and the words “Home of Brandywine Bobcats,” on two sides.

Ringler said the cost is greater than many might think because the company is doing more than just repainting the tower.

The company will have to drape the entire tower and “blast off” the old paint as part of lead remediation work. It will also repaint the inside, replace and/or repair broken/outdated parts and bring the tower up to today’s safety codes.

“A lot needs to be done,” he said.

Ringler said work would begin in late summer or early fall and take a little more than a month.

The new paint job is expected to last a minimum of 15 years before any maintenance is required.

Also Monday, the board:

• Awarded certificates of completion to township firefighter Nicholas Hafer.

• Approved the removal of five trees in the public right-of-way on Floral Court in Fulkerson Park. Ringler said the emerald ash borer beetle killed the trees.

• Set National Day of Prayer for noon, May 7, at the township hall, at 320 Bell Road.