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player ready...The planned spruce-up of the village’s historic water tower will be delayed while village officials take a look at a plan to finance the structure’s future maintenance needs.
The century-old tower needs a paint job that will cost $149,300 as well as structural repairs.
Mayor Jim Holland said the tower is no longer used for water storage but is “an object of art, an icon,” in a town that cherishes its 1890s charm.
Still, the expense is a concern for some residents, Trustee Dick Trevarthan said. “The town is a little bit divided,” Trevarthan said.
Trustee Todd Morgan, who suggested the delay, said he wanted to see the water tower issue addressed on a long-term basis instead of a quick fix.
Just painting the tower “doesn’t address the true need to establish a long-term funding mechanism for the planned preservation of historic assets in our downtown,” he said.
Morgan said he would propose that the village set up a Downtown Historic Preservation Fund, a partnership with civic groups, residents and the business community for preservation planning and financing, with the town matching private contributions toward preserving Frankfort’s heritage.