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Historical society asks to salvage logs from deteriorating house for restoration
Summary
The Saint Clair County Historical Society requested the city allow the society to remove and reuse roughly 82% of the logs from a deteriorated structure (referred to as the 'Loony House') to use in restoring a historic double dog-trot house; council asked staff to obtain a Phase I environmental study before disposal.
Springville — Frank Wade, representing the Saint Clair County Historical Society, urged the council to allow the society to salvage timber and large beams from a dilapidated structure for use in restoring the historic “Loony House.”
Wade said the society already has about “82% of the logs to rebuild,” and proposed that the group remove salvageable lumber if the city plans to dispose of the materials. “Give us a day. It take me a minimum of 30 days to get somebody… It take about I'd say 60 days to take down,” Wade said when discussing the time needed for a careful, board-by-board removal and transport.
Council members and staff said they support reusing historic material where possible but raised environmental and liability questions. The mayor told the council staff found a signed quote for a Phase I environmental study in older files but not the completed study: “the actual environmental study was never done,” he said, noting agricultural operations and historic uses at the site could leave contaminants.
City staff proposed obtaining a current Phase I environmental assessment before directing disposal or transfer. Several council members said they would prefer that step before authorizing removal or transfer of the structure’s lumber to any third party.
Next steps: staff will seek a cost estimate for a Phase I environmental study and return to the council with that information before the council decides on disposal or transfer of building materials.
