Council debates fate of Main Street fire-station smokestack as demolition estimates rise

Shelby City Council on March 14 discussed options for the 90‑foot brick smokestack at the Main Street fire station, weighing demolition against repurposing the structure as a decorative landmark.

City staff presented two options: demolish the smokestack or repurpose it. A staff member identified in the record as Mr. Ansmann reported that the smokestack is a radial brick chimney about 90 feet tall with a platform at roughly 50 feet; the access stairs and some masonry are unsafe or loose. He said demolition estimates have risen over time — approximately $310,000 in 2021 and about $500,000 in a 2023 estimate — and noted that if the stack is removed, the city will need a new location for antenna and utility equipment currently mounted on the platform.

Councilmembers discussed the long-term maintenance costs of repurposing the structure and the rising cost of demolition. One councilmember observed that repurposing would shift ongoing maintenance obligations to the city, and another said the smokestack is a long-standing part of the cityscape and could be a welcoming gateway feature if repurposed and properly finished.

Nut graf: The conversation did not produce a final decision; councilmembers suggested further study and committee review to weigh demolition costs against ongoing maintenance and the need to relocate utilities if the stack is removed.

The transcript shows council interest in bringing the subject to the streets committee or other committees for further review, and staff noted alternate sites for utilities if the stack is demolished, including the Mickey Road water tower or co‑location with an existing cell tower.

Ending: No motion or vote on the smokestack was recorded; the item remained under study, with councilmembers indicating that future discussion and feasibility analysis would take place in committee.