DRAFT

A special meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chamber of the City Hall on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 5:00 p. m. Central Time.

Present: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Thrasher, Koszyk, Benda, and Valesano.

Absent: None

Also present were City Manager Nordeman, City Attorney Lawrence, and City Clerk/Treasurer Olson.

Also in attendance at this meeting were Glen Dobson, Marianne Cambray, Jim Sliva, and Dr. Roger Untalan of the Iron County Community Hospital Board and several citizens of the community.

The purpose of this special meeting was to conduct a public hearing an Council discussions regarding the City’s option to purchase the hospital building located at 212 South 3^rd street in Crystal Falls.

Mayor Hendrickson led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Hendrickson summarized the chain of events that led up to this option on the hospital building and then asked for a representative from Iron County Community Hospitals (ICCH) explain their position.

Glen Dobson offered that the hospital building will be vacated by ICCH in January 2005 and they intend to discontinue the utilities at that time, leaving the building unheated for the balance of the winter months. He further noted that the demolition would begin shortly after ICCH vacates the building unless the City of Crystal Falls exercises the option to buy the building back.

Jim Sliva, who works for ICCH in the maintenance department reported on the condition of the Crystal Falls facility including the need to replace the roof, hot water tanks, boiler feed tank, air conditioning units, windows, and various plumbing repairs. Mr. Sliva also presented a listing of the 2003 operational costs of $107,377.

Mayor Hendrickson called for public comment.

Packy Eckola spoke in favor of keeping the building and asked the Council what their vision for the City was regarding the buildings in town and also to again consider a college consortium as a possible use for the building.

Jack Stachowicz asked what the cost of demolition of this building is. Jim Sliva said they have a contract for $83,000.00. Stachowicz asked why the building was allowed to deteriorate over the years.

Mary Loux Brumley asked what the land would be worth with the building removed.

Wendy Thrasher requested that the City keep the hospital and work on getting an Emergency Room for the East Side of Iron County going again.

Bob Black urged the Council to use all the time possible to market the building before letting it fall to a wrecking ball.

Barbara Benda suggested advertising the building for sale on the Internet.

Dr. Roger Untalan noted that the building must be occupied or it will deteriorate in a hurry. He noted that this building is part of the history of the City, that if a use can be found it, great, otherwise it must be torn down.

Mayor Hendrickson asked for Council comments beginning with Manager Nordeman.

Nordeman advised that the Council should consider this option with their heads and not their hearts. He said that the City is simply not in a financial position to keep the building unless a viable use is found soon. He reported that a representative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation will be visiting on October 25^th and touring the facility to determine if is can be saved and used for housing or some other use.

Councilor Thrasher urged the Council to explore all options prior to demolition of this landmark.

Councilor Koszyk suggested the need to hustle to find a serious investor for the hospital facility before February 1. If not, let it go.

Councilor Valesano asked if the City could afford to save this facility and asked the community to get involved, to explore every option, and if there is no interest by February 1, tear it down before it becomes a huge liability.

Councilor Benda said that if there is no firm commitment by the deadline then ICCH should tear it down.

Scott Kenney suggested perhaps the Council should appeal to the Iron County Community Hospital Board to secure the dollars set aside for the demolition to allow for a later demolition date should it be deemed necessary to thoroughly explore all options.

Mayor Hendrickson noted that the hospital building would be an agenda item at each meeting of the City Council until a decision is reached regarding the fate of the building.

Mayor Hendrickson closed the public hearing at 6:07 p.m.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved to adjourn this special meeting of the City Council.

Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m.