OK so I always try to look at both sides of an issue. Very true that you have done your due diligence to find an equitable solution that is minimal work and no cost for the township. However I can see their side of it too. It's not just them being jerks (and believe me I hate government bureaucracy).
First, you crashed your drone into their property. No one asked you to fly around, over, or into their water tower. The blame for the accident is squarely on your shoulders.
Second I don't believe they have any obligation to climb up there for you to retrieve your property, or allow others to perform a risky retrieval process. I could be wrong on the legal responsibilities here.
Third as others have said, I would seriously consider just writing it off as a learning experience and not pursue it. The township could get more upset and hit you with fines. Technically I think they could even consider it trespassing.
It is sad that there is no easy way to retrieve it, but there is blame on both sides here.
While you make some good points, it is only trespassing if I do not alert them to it. I cannot go on there, but we do have property rights here in NJ. I see from your photo, you must be from the Philly area.
I get it... its a pain in the butt, but I am not putting any burden on the township themselves. I am not asking their public works to go up there, I am not asking anyone in their township service to go up there, I have acquired licensed professionals to go up there.
Regardless, when the antenna are serviced, the drone is going to come down.
I am looking out for them as well, if that drone gets blown off when someone is in the yard... its a safety risk, and a property risk for the stuff that is in the yard (township trucks, etc.). Both parties would be benefited if we just the stupid drone down.
I have talked to the other townships, and know people in the other township administrations who are just as mind blown as I am about this one not allowing someone with INSURANCE, and LICENSED to go up there and get it. Its literally their job climbing these things, and doing these things.
Yes, I flew the drone, and yup it crashed... regardless, there are things called property rights. As the building owners they are required to give me my property back, legally... I have the right to my property. I have more than enough proof that there was no damage done to anything at all.