A committee of local business leaders presented its plans to construct a clock tower at the intersection of Summit Street and Front Street in downtown Winona to the Winona Board of Aldermen Tuesday.
Frank Weed, chairman of the committee, presented the board with a rendering of a tower that will arch over Front Street in front of the Depot. The clock, which used to grace the clock tower of the old Montgomery County Courthouse, will sit atop the arch, and vehicles will have enough clearance to travel underneath the tower.
According to Senator Lydia Chassaniol, the rendering was designed by architect Belinda Stewart, and is estimated to cost approximately $500,000. Chassaniol said the Mississippi Legislature allocated $250,000 toward the project as part of this year’s appropriations bill. She explained the money must be used for the construction of the tower only, per the legislation.
The $250,000 will be available to the city on July 1, 2019.
Weed said the committee is still working to raise funds for the remaining money, but North Central Planning and Development District’s Chris Pope said there is small municipal grant money coming available soon, and he planned to apply for the funds to go toward the clock project.
“I’m so excited for the City of Winona,” Chassaniol said. “We still have money to raise.”
Weed said, “The committee is going to organize a way to get the rest of the money. In order to move forward with the project, we need to get approval for the plan and location of the tower.”
Winona City Attorney Ray Baum asked the board to table the approval until next meeting so he can review the plan.
In other city business:
• The board voted to move forward and advertise for bids to turf the infields of the four main fields at the Winona Recreational Park. However, the aldermen still want to see how the project will be paid for before giving the project the final approval.
• The board gave the Winona Street Department approval to rent a milling machine to mill Powell Street prior to the upcoming resurfacing project to improve the final paving result.
• The board approved the purchase of a 108-inch pipe from Southern Pipe at a cost of $12,700 to replace a bridge on old Highway 51. Currently, the bridge is closed due to disrepair.
