With the controversy surrounding the placement of Safford's 2-million- gallon Lebanon water tank, one might think of that situation upon hearing reports of tank construction workers dodging bullets. The reality is less heinous, however, and seems to be a matter of ill-placed sport shooters near Safford's other tank under construction, the 3-million- gallon Discovery Park water tank.

On Monday, a construction supervisor at the Discovery Park site called the Graham County Sheriff's Office and said his workers told him people were shooting in the area of Freeman Flats on Friday and bullets were hitting next to them. He believed the shots were ricochets and that the shooters were not intentionally aiming at the construction site. He then asked a sign be placed in the area stating not to shoot guns until construction was completed.

Deputy Michael Bodine advised the contractor that while the area is a popular place for people to shoot, it is not permitted and to call the police immediately if it happens again.

The two water tanks are being simultaneously constructed by Natgun, a company headquartered in New York. Natgun previously constructed the city's 2-million-gallon Hillcrest water tank. The three concrete water storage tanks will have the ability to hold 7 million gallons of water and enable the Safford Regional Water Municipality to provide the Gila Valley with water for decades. According to a previous interview with Utilities Director Jay Howe, the tanks are the most cost-effective to build and are virtually maintenance-free. Howe said the tanks have a life expectancy of 100 years but will probably last longer than that.

The new water tanks are necessary to allow the city to drain its in-ground, concrete-lined 10-million- gallon tank located near Discovery Park. The tank is leaking water and is in desperate need of repair.

According to City Manager David Kincaid, the bid for the construction of the tanks was about $2.6 million, and they should be completed in March or April 2010. After the tanks are approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the 10-million-gallon tank will be drained and repaired.