Taxpayers on the hook for bells that might not ring |

TUALATIN, Ore. – The city of Tualatin has already used taxpayer money to buy four huge bronze bells but those bells may never toll.

August brings a close to Tualatin’s largest-ever redevelopment project, the Tualatin Commons. The city’s Central Urban Renewal District sunsetted over the weekend which means funding to complete the development’s central piece, a bell tower, also ends.

The city has worked on the project for almost a decade and has already spent $150,000 for an architect’s drawing and the bells.

But it’s more than just that $150,000 for at least one City Council member.

“The final piece to draw people to this project was never constructed,” said Ed Truax. “It was the centerpiece for a multimillion dollar central urban renewal redevelopment project.”

Tualatin Commons is a project with a mix of offices, restaurants, shops and condominiums that cost taxpayers more than $12 million.

Many didn’t even know the project existed. But Truax said if the 75 foot to 80 foot tower was there people would know the project did exist.

“You could see that tower from the freeway. You could see it from Tualatin-Sherwood Road. You could see it from Boones Ferry and Martinazzi. It was designed to be a visual attractor so that you would look over and say, ‘well, I wonder what’s over there. Let’s go check that out,’” he said.

Tualatin’s mayor, Lou Ogden, said it was all about money. They city just couldn’t afford the final cost that was anywhere from $800,000 to $1 million.

“The council and commission, which is the same body, have always believed in don’t spend more than you make … (which is) one of the reasons why we don’t have an $800,000 bell tower, frankly,” Ogden said.

He said the city prides itself in running lean and mean but did the city put the cart before the horse by having the bells made before the building?

“The other cynic could say a million dollars for a bell tower, are you kidding me?” he responded.

Plans to build the tower have been on and off since 2003.

The bells have been stored at the city’s operations yard where they have been collecting dust.

Many residents said they wonder if the tower will ever be built and if it’s worth the money.

Truax said he wants to see the project through to completion.

“I would spend eight hundred thousand. I would spend a million two. I would finish this project and create what we set out to accomplish,” he said.

Truax said a number of businesses in the commons have failed, and he said he believes if the tower was built they would have made it.