Lightning did the damage (Photo: Jerry Kleiner)
MIDDLETOWN – Reconstruction work has begun on the steeple of the Middletown senior citizen center building. Lightning recently struck the edifice causing damage significant enough to force a section of the building to be declared off limits.
The city common council appropriated $30,500 to restore the steeple, but residents will only have to foot part of the bill, noted Mayor Joseph DeStefano.
“Insurance will cover all but $10,000, but the lightning protection is not covered by insurance; it is covered out-of-pocket,” he said.
The city will wind up paying for about half of the total.
Had the city taken down the steeple, which was not even considered, the mayor said it would have cost $360,000.
