It seems that a resolution has been found that would result in the saving of the Utica Tower, the 125 foot steel structure along the Erie Canal in North Utica that bears that banner UTICA in seven foot tall red letters. On Monday, the Utica Landmark Tower Corporation had elected to “decommission” the tower and remove it by the end of the year. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced that the county will acquire the tower and “keep it lit for many years to come.”

This is the statement by Picente:

The Utica Tower has become a fixture in Oneida County that has served as a beloved beacon marking the county seat. I was disappointed to hear that the Utica Landmark Tower Corporation was having problems maintaining its operation and was planning to tear it down. It would be a shame to lose a structure that has become a symbol of the city, so Oneida County will take ownership of the Utica Tower and keep it lit for many years to come.

The Utica Landmark Tower Corporation, it its announcement Monday, had cited concerns over security and liability highlighted by two incidents this past summer in which an individual climbed to the top of the tower. The Corporation said, in their statement, that the state had wanted to review indemnity, liability and insurance limits for the state. Those points were disputed by the New York State Canal Corporation in a statement given to Eyewitness News.

The cost to Oneida County for the operation of the tower is expected to run $12,000 to $14,000 per year.