Huron Township to parks system on buying Flat Rock dam: No thanks
Huron Township officials have no plans to take over ownership of the Flat Rock dam, a century-old decommissioned dam that some want to see preserved because of the recreation opportunities it offers.
Earlier this spring, Huron-Clinton Metroparks, which owns the Flat Rock dam, offered to sell it to Huron Township or the city of Flat Rock for $5. A spokeswoman for the parks system said the offer was after community members and stakeholders expressed "a consistent desire for more local control around decisions related to the future of the Flat Rock."
But Huron Township Deputy Supervisor Cristin Colling said the township has "no plans" to transfer ownership of the dam to the township.
"While there are communications being exchanged, there are no plans at this time for the ownership to be transferred where Huron Charter Township is concerned," wrote Colling in an email.
She said in a follow-up email the township never sought to buy the dam, and that the offer came unsolicited from Metroparks.
More: As removal of Flat Rock Dam is debated, parks system offers to sell it for $5
"Therefore at this time the Township has no plan to buy the dam," she wrote.
Metroparks did not immediately say on Monday whether Flat Rock had responded to the offer. Mayor Steven Beller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Located on the Huron River near the intersection of Huron River Drive and Arsenal Drive, the Flat Rock Dam once supplied hydroelectric power to the Ford Motor Company Lamp Factory, which assembled headlights and other lighting systems from 1923 to 1950. The factory stopped operating in 1950.
Ford sold the dam to Huron-Clinton Metroparks in 1951. The water impoundment and surrounding natural spaces have provided recreation, such as fishing and the nearby Huroc Park.
The Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment has classified the dam as a "high hazard potential," which means the dam is located in an area where a failure could seriously damage critical infrastructure or the environment, or cause the loss of life.
Danielle Mauter, a spokeswoman for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, has said while the dam is currently in fair condition, it will continue to degrade.
"As such, we feel it is our responsibility as the owners of the Flat Rock Dam to be proactive in the management of the dam and have as much information about future alternatives as possible to make decisions and to budget for future needs," she wrote.
Still, some local residents want to see the dam preserved, saying it is part of Flat Rock's character and also offers recreation opportunities that are key for attracting people to the area.
jcardi@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Huron Township to parks system on buying Flat Rock dam: No thanks
