Aurora Eyes Industrial Park Again for New Water Tower Site

Aurora’s search for a new water tower site has circled back to where city leaders wanted it all along. City Council on Monday, Oct. 26, approved a $32,619.35 contract with DLZ Ohio Inc. to perform geotechnical exploration on a possible site in the industrial park. Council passed Ordinance 2026-164 on first reading as an emergency measure. That allows the soil work to begin quickly. Funding will come from the Water Capital Fund, and no council member voted against it. Landowners Finally Come to the Table The current tower design calls for a location near Sunny Lake Park. According to Public Service Director Harry Stark, the industrial park has always been the city’s first choice. For years, that option was off the table. No one in the industrial park was willing to sell property or grant easements to the city. Now two property owners in the area have signaled they are ready to work with Aurora, Stark said. Aurora already has a water tower in the industrial park. The South tower will be demolished once the new one is complete. Why Elevation Matters Council member Sarah Grdina Gilmore asked what prompted the second look. Stark pointed to elevation, explaining that the industrial park sits higher than most of Aurora. Water towers rely on height to create pressure in the system. A tower on lower ground has to be built taller to do the same job. Taller towers cost more. Stark said the average height difference between the two sites is 40 feet, a big factor for a concrete structure. The ground itself also played a role. Soil at the Sunny Lake site was soft in spots, Stark said, and that called for a stronger support structure. Soil Testing Is Part of Due Diligence One council member praised Stark for sticking with the industrial park, calling it the best location. That member also asked whether testing needed to happen before any land purchase. It does, Stark said. He described the work as part of the city’s due diligence. “We’re not going to build a tower in an area that has unsuitable soil,” he said. He also confirmed the property being considered is available for the city to buy. A Race Against Grant Deadlines Council member Ralph Ware asked how quickly the work needs to happen. Stark said the city faces a time crunch. The project carries an estimated price tag of about $7.5 million. Aurora has secured a $400,000 grant from the State of Ohio along with a loan through the Ohio EPA. Both sources come with deadlines, and Stark warned the city could lose money if the project stalls. His goal is to finish soil testing before the weather turns. Several more steps follow: Purchasing the property, which could take several months Revising the tower design for the new location Getting the Ohio EPA permit to install reapproved Seeking Ohio Public Works Commission approval to shift the grant to the new site “There is a lot that has to be done in order to get this moving forward,” Stark said.