Following Independence Day celebrations over the three-day weekend, it was back to the grind for the Sault Ste. Marie City Commission.
Top priority was the second and final public hearing on demolition of the old pump house.
The pump house is located by Sherman Park, where it has stood as a fixture along the St. Mary's waterfront for nearly 120 years.
During operation, hundreds of millions of gallons of water had been pumped into the homes, schools, properties and businesses of Sault Ste Marie residents. It is credited for helping to spur the city's development, but today it has deteriorated into a financial burden.
The structure's 1993 closure led to its current state of disrepair.
As the city searched for various ways to preserve the pump house, it was subjected to vandalism and break-ins. This piece of history has grown too costly to keep in place.
The first public hearing concerning its demolition was held on Monday, June 27, gaining a lot of public attention.
“Looking at the structure and for us to upgrade it or rehabilitate it, the most cost effective means is a demolition,” City Manager Brian Chapman said on Tuesday.
Sault Ste. Marie Parks and Recreation board member Jeff Basista rose to the podium to speak out against the city's proposal.
“There is a contract being prepared for the master plan tonight,” Basista said. “It is on the agenda for approval. There will be public meetings that will be held in the preparation of this master plan. For that reason, the demolition should be postponed. There are uses for the old pump house, public and/or private recreation, you should be exploring. It is my understanding that a combination of private and public use has not been explored for that structure. There appears to also be a discrepancy between whether the land can be sold.”
In Basista’s opinion, the pump house could have been used as a Sherman Park cornerstone.
Phil Bellfy, who purchased the Bruce Township School, said he was able to save the public school system up to $50,000 in demolition costs.
“I had one goal, which I maintained,” said Bellfy. “When people drive by that school, I want them to have a smile on their face. I am willing to do the same thing for the pump house.”
He encouraged further discussions prior to its demolition.
Another resident questioned the building’s Masonry work and its historical value to seek grant funding.
Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board member Debbie Jones took a stand as well, reiterating the structure's historical value. She assured that grants must be available to repurpose the building.
Mary June of the Chippewa County Historical Society was next at the podium in attempt to preserve history.
“If the park commission could include it in their development, I think it would really be a good centerpiece for the park,” she said.
June helped commissioners envision the pump house renovated to its former glory with a wraparound deck.
Sault Ste. Marie Parks and Recreation board member Lisa Young referenced former DDA Director Justin Knepper’s public comment from the 27th when he said:
“I know there's a lot of people who have grown up around Sherman Park; some of them that have money. I know it's a massive crazy project for anyone, but I didn't know there were any options if someone said, ‘You know, give it to me for a dollar and give me one year.”
Young acknowledged several problems with the old structure only to point out, “When it’s gone, it’s gone.
She also asked the commission to hold off on demolition.
The city researched reports on the old pump house from 1997, 2001, 2018, and 2021, estimating that restoration costs would accumulate to somewhere around $1 million.
According to the city, the building’s size significantly limits funding resources, as there has been a shift away from historical preservation this fiscal year. Its 2001 report listed a potential grant from the Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI).
“The Clean Michigan Initiative has shifted focus and is currently being used for pollution response and education, waterfront restoration, lead service line mitigation, and state park improvements. Currently, the CMI is in the Michigan Legislature awaiting approval for bond sale funding to fund the fund.”
The city also referenced the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) from its 2001 report:
“The MNRTF has 136 projects totaling 59 million dollars. Only 117 projects totaling 45.6 million dollars are scheduled for fiscal year 2022. Funding is also in question for the MNRTF. Governor Whitmer has asked for more money for this fund, but no activity has taken place in the Legislature.”
Federal funds have allegedly followed similar trends.
Private development has been pursued in the past. It was even listed on the city's webpage under bid requests.
By 2021 the option of demolition was more seriously considered, due to the building's severely damaged roof, inner-deterioration, restoration costs and lack of grant funding.
The city said a request for bids was sent out that year to provide a budget number for its demolition.
At which time, an environmental survey was conducted. Numerous environmental and health hazards were identified.
The city sought an estimate from Bay Area Demolition to abate asbestos, dispose of materials, grind the concrete for city road gravel, lay topsoil and plant grass seed in its former place. The cost of that demolition bid was approximately $87,826.
If the building were to remain, all environmental hazards would have to be mitigated at costs estimated around $117,400.
“The Economic Development Commission (EDC) has a contract with the state to utilize Zoom Prospector, which is a resource that goes out to developers across the state and county,” Chapman said. “The property is listed up there with its zoning destination, utilities and all pertinent information. There has been an attempt recently. It has been up here for a while and marketed.”
Chapman said the building is currently owned by the water utility.
“The water utility has the potential to dispose of property if it is deemed not necessary to the system anymore,” said Chapman. “There are state laws that prohibit us from selling parts of the property, but that’s not the case with utility property. We can sell utility property.”
Chapman protested against the city’s parks and recreation department taking over the pump house.
“I would not recommend that,” he said. “We have a hard time maintaining the current structures on our parks inventory list right now. We would not be able to take on something like this and really do anything significant with it, with or without grants.”
Chapman added the city did not have the capital needed to match such grants.
“Our recommendation is to demolish the building,” he said.
Commissioner Andrew Rubinstein then inquired about waiting six months or so, knowing the building’s roof may not last through the winter.
Chapman said the current contractor would like to start work by August.
Commissioner Shane Miller reiterated saftey concerns, stating that pieces of wood were falling in front of him during a recent tour.
“I wish people would have been talking about this eight or nine years ago when we probably could have salvaged the building,” said Miller. “If we got a huge grant right now to fix it, the building is unfixable.”
Commissioner Tim Talentino reminded the public of several city requests for proposals (RFP). He added that the parking lot would not be included in the sale.
“I think we are opening ourselves up for way too many different things here,” Talentino said.
Mayor Pro-tempore Kathleen Twardy remembered the pump house in its prime. Twardy agreed with all who spoke in stating she would have loved to see the pump house salvaged.
“At the end of the day, it is a huge safety issue,” she said.
A motion to award the demolition of the old pump house to Bay Area Demolition for the amount of $87,826.00 was moved by Miller, seconded by Talentino and carried unanimously.
“The reason we got this great deal (demolition bid) is because they would like to repurpose and reuse a lot of the materials from the building," said Twardy. "I would like to think it would live on.”
In Mayor Don Gerrie's absence, Twardy stepped up to run yesterday's meeting, which began as it ended with more sad news.
“As some of you may know, on Saturday afternoon, Sault Ste. Marie lost an amazing person,” Twardy said, tearfully. “Wendy Zimmerman Beaudoin, lifelong Sault Ste. Marie resident passed away. Like many of us, Wendy and I have been friends since childhood. Wendy served the city of Sault Ste. Marie as a commissioner from April 2001 until November of 2003. Most recently, Wendy was the director of our very own Sault Housing Authority. Our hearts are with her family and especially with her son, Andrew, during this difficult time. My Sault High Class of 1987 just lost another member of our family.”
Through sadness, Twardy and other commissioners celebrated with the community on Independence Day, riding downtown in a patriotic float, throwing candy to families.
