Just under $8,000,000 will be split by 19 Kansas communities and two counties. Barnard is one of them. The Community Development Block Grant program is providing Barnard with $162,060 to build a new standpipe for water storage. The current historic WPA water tower is planned to be demolished to make way for the new standpipe. The city is providing matching funds of $108,040 through the sale of bonds.
Do we need a new water tower? Yes, we do. Do we need to tear down the existing historical landmark that Barnard residents and visitors know so well? No, I don't believe we do. A local organization is working to get an engineer independent of the city to evaluate the structural integrity of the historic tower.
Many Barnard residents, former residents, and people that live in rural Barnard have expressed their desire to keep the old water tower. The council claims that the tower is structurally unsound. However, it is still in use and is not barricaded. Many others have said that the city deliberately neglected the water tower so it would deteriorate and they would have no choice but to replace it. I can't say whether the city did or did not do this.
However, it is clearly time to act. You have encouraged those of us fighting to keep it but now is the time for you to act. We could very well lose the battle if you are not willing to stand up for your community. The city council is NOT the enemy but many have said that the council has limited vision. If you are not willing to tell them what you want, then you are guilty of the neglect of which you have accused the council. The only people (other than a select few) that the city has heard from are the ones that support demolition of our landmark.
It is by no means a lost cause. There is still time to act. Before any demolition can be done, there is an environmental study that must be conducted and the federal historical agencies must sign off on the project.
No one has told me that they don't think that we need a new tower. I believe we need a new tower. But a great many of you said that the old one should be preserved. Now is the time to tell those that you elected that you support the preservation of the old tower. As I have said before, you are the only ones that can keep Barnard from becoming a memory. If you don't act, who will?
Contact the Barnard Banter at barnardbanter.@aol.com
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