By Dawn Timbs

Staples World reporter

Heightened security measures are being taken to ensure that the City of Motley’s water tower and pumping station are secure; following an alert April 11, that the city’s water tower might have been compromised.

Bruce Brotherton, Motley Maintenance Assistant, received a call around noon that day that the door to the city’s water tower was open.

Brotherton notified the Motley Police Department and the city’s mayor, Konrad Alexander, about the situation. After further investigation, they discovered that the lock to the water tower door had been cut.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified immediately; and Motley Police Chief Brian Madison reports that FBI agent Shane Ball drove to Motley to assist in the situation.

“That was the proper measure to take,” said FBI media contact Kyle Loven, from Minneapolis. “Because of the possibility of domestic terrorism, we always err on the side of caution,” he said, contacted by phone April 14.

Brotherton shut the water off immediately; isolating the tower until it could be tested for any foreign substance.

The Minnesota Department of Health was notified and conducted the water testing.  All tests came back negative, Brotherton said.

“Bruce Brotherton worked very hard all day Sunday to maintain water pressure and keep things flowing,” Mayor Alexander said at the Motley City Council’s regular meeting April 13.

Others assisting in the situation included MPD officer Mitch Tavares, Maintenance Supervisor Wayne Barros, City Clerk/Treasurer Terri Smith and Motley City Council members Nancy Nieken and Rob Sampson.

“We’re treating this as a vandalism,” Police Chief Madison reported. “We do not have any idea of why someone did this other than a dare or a cheap thrill,” he added.

Chief Madison told the council, at their meeting April 13, that a “string of these (water tower break-ins) happened in the metro  area about two years ago.” In those cases, the locks had been cut and were missing. “Our lock was missing,” Madison said.

The five people responsible were eventually caught, served time in prison and were recently released. 

Madison said the reports of those people will be sent  the MPD. They’re not sure if these five people could possibly be the same people who broke into the Motley water tower.

“This will be an ongoing investigation until this person or persons are brought to justice,” Madison said.

Chief Madison said that a lot of money was spent April 11. “The amount spent includes the Minnesota Department of Health conducting the water testing. That will probably be in the many thousands of dollars.” Plus, there were many hours put in by city employees.

Breaking into water towers is a federal offense, Chief Madison stated. It would mean very large fines and jail time to the person or persons responsible.

“The FBI and the BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) said we handled the situation perfectly,” Chief Madison told the council. “They are willing to assist us in the future if we catch the people.”

The council voted unanimously, at their meeting April 13, to spend up to $1,000 to add security to the water tower and the pumping facility.