New twist in the water tower story

A new player has emerged in the ongoing saga of the white water tower on Great Northern Road.

Clyde Healey of PUC Services Inc. tells SooToday.com that a new proposal has been received to preserve the aging ellipsoid.

Healey (shown with the original 1967 scale model of the tower design, considered very advanced for its day) said that the submission will be considered by the Water Tower Review Committee.

If it's deemed viable, the concept would then be submitted to the Public Utilities Commission and probably City Council.

Last year, the PUC asked for ideas on what to do with the structure.

It received 14 submissions, but determined that they "represent no significant changes" since the Public Utilities Commission last asked for ideas for the water tower in the mid 1990s.

A study group, consisting of Healey, Maurice Kukoraitis (the City's director of engineering, design and buildings) and Susan Myers (manager of marketing and tourism at the Economic Development Corp.) rejected the submissions and recommended that the water tower be dismantled and sold for scrap.

In January, City Council voted to allow one final opportunity for private-sector proposals for the landmark.

In June, local entrepreneurs Bill Cowen and Jeff Hilderley indicated that they wanted to buy the tower but the two have not responded to recent requests from the PUC for additional information and their initiative is believed to be dormant.