The State - News from May 20, 1987

The historic Madera water tower that the City Council ordered torn down has won a reprieve for at least for six months. Councilman Robert Garibay had previously voted to demolish the 120-foot structure at D and 7th streets but changed his mind in order to give the community six months to raise $35,000 to restore the tower. Councilmen Patrick O’Rourke and Alan Brown already favored saving the 76-year-old structure, so Garibay’s switch provided a 3-2 majority to hold off on the demolition. The council made the change after being presented with a petition signed by 2,100 people who want the water tower saved.