What’s that Lassie? You say the old mill in Leonard is collapsing?
Work is currently underway at the Leonard Country Mill to stabilize and repair the front, upper portion of the historic structure, part of which collapsed Sunday.
Located at the corner of E. Elmwood and Division streets, the grain elevator/mill was built sometime in the late 1880s and was known as the Leonard Grain Elevator until 1976 when it was renamed the Leonard Country Mill. It was in that year the structure ceased being used for farming-related purposes and became a general store.
On Monday, some employees at ITT Industries, which is next door to the mill, reported part of structure had collapsed, according to Fire Chief George Spencer.
It appears a portion of the roof over the mill’s upper floors facing E. Elmwood St. collapsed and pushed the supporting walls outward toward the street.
To ensure the safety of pedestrians and vehicles, the area was roped off by yellow caution tape, while the adjacent streets were closed to through-traffic.
E. Elmwood St. from Rochester Rd. to just east of the mill was closed to through-traffic as well as Division St. between E. Elmwood St. and Baza St.
A section of the Polly Ann Trail which runs alongside the mill to the east was also closed off with yellow caution tape.
Leonard’s building inspector David Blocki issued an April 11 ‘Warning of Intent to Demolish Unsafe Structure? to the mill’s owner Ed Knight.
The Bruce Township resident has owned the mill since December 1994.
‘This unoccupied industrial zoned structure is determined to be unsafe by the Village of Leonard Building Official because of its roof collapsing due to its diminished structural integrity,? the village notice stated.
‘It is the determination of the Village of Leonard that the grain elevator consitutes a danger to the surrounding community and that the grain elevator must be repaired within 24 hours or, if the damage is beyond repair, it must be demolished within 24 hours,? wrote Blocki. ‘It is the intent of the village to pursue legal action to have the grain elevator demolished within 48 hours pursuant to the State of Michigan Building Jr. noted if the village was forced to act as indicated in the letter, only the front, upper floors of mill where the collapse and damage occurred would be demolished, not the whole mill structure.
‘Keep in mind we’re not talking the entire structure,? Mallia said at the meeting. ‘We’re talking the front half, I’m going to call it stories two and three. Even though it looks like a two-story structure there, that’s actually the third floor.?
However, Mallia’s verbal clarification was not noted in writing, something which Councilwoman Char Sutherby pointed out. Sutherby suggested it be included in the written notice to Knight, but Mallia indicated the letter was fine as is and moved on.
On Tuesday, workers from Shoes, Inc., a general contracting company based in Leonard, began stabilizing and securing the pushed-out mill walls to prevent them from collapsing and eliminate any potential safety hazard.
Tom Schulert, of Shoes, Inc., said once the walls have been secured, the collapsed roof will be removed with a crane.The walls will then be moved back into place and a new roof constructed. Schulert estimated the whole job should take about three weeks.
Despite the rumors floating around town, the Leonard Country Mill is not going to be demolished according to what the Leader has been told as of Tuesday.
Knight said he’s lined up some potential buyers for the mill who wish to restore the historic structure.
Details were sketchy early Wednesday (April 13), but it appears the mill’s owner was advised by the Leonard building inspector to consult a structural engineer to determine if Tuesday’s efforts to shore up and secure the damaged walls have made the structure safe enough to re-open E. Elmwood and Division streets along with the Polly Ann Trail.
The two adjacent village streets and adjacent portion of the trailway remain closed.