Troy officials believe they found way to stop water infiltration in city hall
In this restroom view, crews had to cut away the affected drywall and insulation after rainwater infiltrated the Troy Police Department via the north wall. (file photo)
By Charles Bolinger
Editor • After a month or so of investigation, Troy officials think they have the solution to the water leaks that have infiltrated the police department.
During his report at the July 6 city council meeting, Troy City Administrator Jay Keeven led off with a situation update.
“Regarding the leak on the north side of the building by the police department, I met with Bill Hansen from The Wet Paint Company [in Troy],” Keeven said. “He’s the gentleman who painted this building a couple of years ago. We looked at the damage. He believes that the water is coming through some of the cracks in the block joints where it’s not mortared well.”
Hansen said he will provide a bid for work to fill those gaps and he has a thicker, heavier paint to use and that he can match to the building’s exterior so it will match.
Previously, the building’s roof membrane and roof-mounted solar array were also possible culprits as sources of the water infiltration.
“We think that will stop the water; we don’t think the water is coming from the roof because the damage is about two feet up the metal studs where the rust begins,” Keeven said.
Keeven told the mayor and council the work will be an inexpensive fix, somewhere in the $500 to $1,000 range.
Keeven requested the police department to leave the north wall of the building as is for a few months and not stack any items on the floor against that wall so officials can make sure that any future rainfall will not get inside again. Keeven said if the new paint verifies as the solution, then they can replace the insulation and drywall that was previously torn out and the police department can revert to its pre-leak space crunch. The department’s space limitations became more acute after the leaks were discovered.
Keeven said if the new paint does not correct the issue, they will have to seek a different solution. The next Troy City Council meeting is July 20 at 6:30 p.m. in city hall, located at 116 E. Market St.
