HAMBURG, N.Y. — What better place to dish up the four designs for the Hamburg water tower than at the annual BurgerFest in Hamburg.

At 11:45 a.m. Saturday, the four artists who have submitted designs for the big blue eyesore's grand improvement will take to the main stage across from the Palace Theatre and reveal their designs in a fitting kickoff to the festival.

At that point, the online voting will begin. 

Getting the final recipe has been a long time coming. Back in 2017, Chris Luly, the board chair of the Hamburger Water Tower Project, got the OK from the Hamburg Town Board to get the motions going. 

Currently, Luly is working with Visit Buffalo Niagara on a fiscal contract. VBN's foundation will act as the bank for the upward of $1 million needed to complete the project. Funding for the water tower's upgrade will come from community donations and corporate sponsors. Luly says tax money will not be used.