By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
City of Whitewater voters were asked on the November 5 ballot whether they felt that the city should use tax dollars to repair and maintain the Starin Park Water Tower, a Local Landmark which is no longer in use. 56% of those responding to the non-binding referendum expressed the view that tax dollars should not be used for this purpose. The vote was 2209 in favor and 2836 opposed. If the votes cast at the university polling place, where nearly all the voters were students, are not counted, the negative percentage reaches 57.7%.
The Common Council at its regular meeting on November 19 will begin discussing the results of the referendum and the path forward. City Manager John Weidl, in a memo to the Council, indicates that the water tower is not quickly deteriorating, and consequently there is no immediate need to act. He recommends, “eventually referring the referendum results to the Landmarks Commission with a directive to develop, by June of 2025, a range of options that fall between full demolition and permanent restoration, including the possibility of repurposing the tower on-site.” Among the possibilities that the commission might consider could be “relocation efforts, such as lowering or showcasing parts of the tower in a museum.” Weidl also suggests that the Council ask the commission to propose fundraising efforts that could offset a significant part of any restoration or preservation expenses.
The Whitewater Banner provided background regarding the historical significance and structural assessment of the tower in the following articles: https://whitewaterbanner.com/starin-park-water-tower-non-binding-referendum-on-nov-5-ballot/ and https://whitewaterbanner.com/the-whitewater-water-tower/
The text of the non-binding referendum was as follows: “The City of Whitewater Water Utility has decommissioned the Starin Park Water Tower, meaning it is no longer part of the water system. The Water Utility can spend up to $600,000 (the cost of demolition) to maintain it as a City-owned Historical Landmark. The remaining costs, approximately $1,000,000 for repairs and $250,000 every 10 years for maintenance would need to come from City tax dollars or donations. Should the City of Whitewater use tax dollars to repair and maintain the Starin Park Water Tower?”
Editor’s note: The sunrise photo on the homepage was taken in 2023 by UW-W Police Officer Ryan Dewing using a drone.
