There are lessons to be learned in building a community.

This one stands out: We must work together.

An example of this is the recent collaboration between the City of Webster City and Van Diest Supply Co. Together, they will build and maintain a new 250,000-gallon water tower near Van Diest Supply Co.’s factory complex west of Webster City.

The company will pay for the design and construction of the new tower, with the City of Webster City assuming normal maintenance and operating costs, estimated at $5,000 to $15,000 a year.

The city learned last fall that Van Diest’s insurance company had notified it that additional water capacity was required at the plant to put out a fire should one ever occur. Originally, it was planned for Van Diest Supply to build, own and operate the new water tower.

But, through collaboration and cooperation, the company agreed to stand the cost of construction, with the City of Webster City assuming ownership, operation and maintenance of it as part of the municipal water supply system.

The city agreed way back in 1999 to build an extension to the city’s water main and a new pump station at 1447 220th Street (old U.S. Highway 20) to provide additional water to the plant. Although Van Diest Supply is located outside city limits, it’s within the city’s two-mile jurisdiction. State law allows cities to review and approve land development and use within two miles of city limits.

This new construction agreement will benefit both.

Van Diest requires 180,000 gallons be kept in the tower at all times for the company’s use.

That leaves a 70,000-gallon surplus.

“The balance will be available for other uses,” City Manager John Harrenstein has said.

“This is an example of a beneficial public-private partnership. Van Diest is showing good faith in financing the entire cost of the new water tower and turning it over to the city to operate,” Harrenstein said. “Improvements to municipal utilities benefit everyone. In this instance, we’re able to improve water service to our fifth or sixth largest water user.

“I see this project as a framework for our thinking on projects like this in the future.”

In other words, we will find our community’s success in working together.

The city and Van Diest Supply agreement is a good example. Our future will be built through these types of collaboration.