Delegate Expects Roland Water Tower Funding

Del. Shawn Z. Tarrant remains confident that a bond bill for $250,000 to help preserve the Roland Water Tower will be funded—but not completely.

In a telephone interview before the House of Delegates' Wednesday morning session, Tarrant said he feels the project will receive at least some funds this year.

“I really predict (the) Roland (Water Tower) will receive funding. It’s a legislative priority,” Tarrant said.

But he added that he doesn’t believe the project will receive the full $250,000 requested in the bill, and noted most bond bills aren't fully funded the first time they're approved. 

A bill requesting the same amount of funds was submitted but was not funded during the last regular session, and Tarrant also that bill would be approved too.

The bill isn’t expected to get a hearing before the Maryland House Appropriations Committee until later in the session. But Del. Barbara Robinson, who is the lead sponsor of the bill that is co-sponsored by Del. Frank Conaway Jr. and Tarrant, serves on that committee.

The delegation is hopeful that Robinson's service on the committee will improve the bills chances of passing. Sen. Catherine Pugh has sponsored and cross filed a bond bill in the Senate. to read the full text of the bills.

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Neighborhoods surrounding the tower have been to save the turn of the last century landmark.  Currently the tower is fenced off from the public because of terracotta falling from the tower.

But during a Roland Park Civic League meeting in November, architect and Roland Park resident Peter Pearre made a presentation, and said the tower was structurally sound.

The tower was built between 1904 and 1905 but was out of service by 1930 when the city transferred to a reservoir system.