The vote to approve funding for the proposed “Westfield Towers” project will come at the July 14 Westfield City Council meeting. If the vote had been held on June 23, it would have passed 4-2. Councilor Bob Smith was not in attendance at the meeting.
After the public hearing portion of the meeting, councilors took turns expressing their individual thoughts on the project. Typically this type of open dialogue is held before the vote of topic and not weeks beforehand.
Councilors Cindy Spoljaric and Rob Stokes would have cast the dissenting votes.
Spoljaric said that while art is subjective the towers project has “such division (by residents) and is so much money.”
“It flies in the face of our Quaker heritage,” she said.
Stokes said he would prefer to spend the money on the police and fire departments, but said it is not allowed because the utility funds need to be spent on infrastructure.
“In my opinion this is not infrastructure,” he said. “I don’t see how the funds from the utility sale can be put to this when it is not a structure.”
Stokes said he could get behind other “structure” projects like a museum, botanical gardens or veterans memorial. Another option Stokes is in favor of is investing funds from the sale.
“Just because we have it doesn’t mean we have to spend it,” he said. “I can’t get on board with it. There are more things to benefit the city more than this.”
Proponents of the landmarks said it provides economic development and “once in a lifetime” opportunities.
“I don’t want to have regrets,” Councilor Bob Horkay said.
“We have high taxes because we have too many residents and not enough businesses. We have to ensure as a council we get more businesses. We believe this will help do that,” Councilor Steve Hoover said. “Ultimately, this will lower all of our taxes.”
City Council President Jim Ake said Westfield is fiscally strong and provides top notch public safety with a lean work force. He added that the city has established a laundry list of needed improvements and can complete them all and construct the towers.
“We are paving streets and putting in roundabouts. We need to make the world aware of what we have and we have the funds to do it,” Ake said. “Where are we not meeting the needs of the community? Tell me because I’d like to know.”
Bids received by the city for the “Westfield Towers” project range from $2.45 million to $3.07 million.
