BY RANDY McNUTT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
OXFORD -- Before a packed house Tuesday, city council said no to the 130-foot uptown water tower -- for the last time.
By a 4-2 vote, council accepted a bid of $44,550 from Pittsburgh Tank and Tower Co. to dismantle the 1920s structure, despite a last-minute effort by tower proponents to pay for its renovation.
Last week, the Tower Project Committee announced that it had raised $100,000 through private donors to restore and preserve the tower, which sits in Memorial Park.
That didn't matter to tower opponents, however. Mayor William Snavely said it would cost at least $200,000 to restore the tower. "It's a value judgment," he said. "The way to deal with this is the democratic process. There is something more important than the tower -- the community."
Supporters say the tower could serve as a centerpiece for the renaissance of the uptown business district and development of its parks.
Committee member Dr. William Stitt said the tower is a landmark that "gives uptown Oxford its unique identity. . . . It is widely recognized by residents, visitors and Miami University alumni." He said the money would spare taxpayers the burden of demolishing the tower, restoring the site and erecting a replacement structure. In 1993, the city drained the tower and said it was a hazard. In 1994, council advertised for bids for demolition, but some residents objected and the tower was spared.
In November 1997, citizens voted to demolish the tower in a non-binding referendum. This April, the Tower Project Committee filed suit against the city, questioning whether proper procedures were followed in seeking demolition.
Butler County Common Pleas Judge John R. Moser ruled in favor of the city, which readvertised for bids.
