[Southsider2k12]

http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs....ews01/705030319

Landmark M.C. lighthouse needs new ownership
Uncle Sam looking for someone to take 55-foot tower 'as is.'


STAN MADDUX
Tribune Correspondent

MICHIGAN CITY -- It's hard to imagine a community any more defined as Michigan City is by its lighthouse.

Used extensively as a marketing tool to draw people to the city, particularly the lakefront, the octagonal building carries a little less value in the eyes of Uncle Sam.

Deemed as "excess to the needs" of the federal government, the U.S. General Services Administration revealed Wednesday that it wants to, literally, give it away.


Fred DeVries, chairman of the Michigan City Historical Society, said he does not believe the future of the historic pierhead light is in jeopardy. He is confident someone will step up to take it off the government's hands.

"This is something we want to keep. It's a symbol of Michigan City," DeVries said.

In accordance with the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, the 55-foot tower on a concrete base on the east side of Michigan City's breakwater is offered "as is."

And, at no cost to other federal, state or local agencies and nonprofit corporations, according to USGSA officials.

Whoever accepts ownership must use the lighthouse for education, park, recreation, cultural or historic preservation purposes, GSA officials said.

In recent years, lighthouses have been given away or sold because the Coast Guard no longer has the manpower or resources to maintain them, said GSA spokeswoman Paula Santangelo.

She said the lighthouse is offered free initially for the public good.

If there's no response, it'll go out to the private sector for bid in a process expected to run its course by the end of this year or early in 2008.

Regardless of who owns it, Santangelo said the lighthouse will continue to function according to U.S. Coast Guard requirements and historic preservation guidelines.

If there are no interested owners, Santangelo said, the U.S. Coast Guard in all likelihood would still maintain and operate it.

"The light will continue to serve those out on the water," she said.

Officials at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Muskegon, Mich., which is in charge of maintaining the lighthouse, could not be reached for comment.

In Michigan City, coast guard officers like Jason Fowler are involved strictly in search and rescue.

He said the pierhead light operates at night and during the day in fog, helpful to commercial fishermen and recreational boaters who might otherwise become lost.

Although most large watercraft owners have equipment to guide them back by satellite, Fowler said lights remain a critical part of safety.

"It's an extreme help to know where the entrance to the harbor is," Fowler said.

In his eyes, DeVries said, his group, already having a full plate, would not be interested in owning the lighthouse, but felt the park department or some other branch of city government might be.

DeVries said he could not imagine any other use for the building, saying it's too cramped on the inside to offer tours and is treacherous to reach, especially during the winter.

Just having it there is valuable enough in terms of drawing artists and other visitors to Indiana's only functioning lighthouse, said Maureen Mellen, director of marketing for the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"I think the lighthouse symbolizes who we are," she said.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.michigancityin.com/articles/200.../news/news1.txt

Want a lighthouse?

By Stan Maddux, For The News-Dispatch

It's hard to imagine thinking of Michigan City without thinking of its landmark Lake Michigan lighthouse.

Used extensively as a marketing tool to draw people to the city, the 1800s building, at least in the eyes of Uncle Sam, carries little or no value.

Deemed “excess to the needs” of the federal government, the U.S. General Services Administration on Wednesday said it wants to give it away.

Fred DeVries, chairman of the Michigan City Historical Society, said he does not believe the future of the historic pierhead light is in jeopardy. He said he's confident someone will step up to take it off the government's hands.

“This is something we want to keep. It's a symbol of Michigan City,” said DeVries.

She said the lighthouse is offered free initially for the public good. If there's no response, it will then go for bid to the private sector in a process expected to run its course by the end of this year or early in 2008.

Regardless of who owns it, Santangelo said the lighthouse will continue to function according to U.S. Coast Guard requirements and historic preservation guidelines. If there are no interested owners, Santangelo said the Coast Guard in all likelihood would still maintain and operate it.

“The light will continue to serve those out on the water,” she said.

Officials at the Coast Guard station in Muskegon, Mich., which is responsible for maintaining the lighthouse, could not be reached for comment.

In Michigan City, the Coast Guard is involved strictly in search and rescue. Although most large watercraft owners have equipment to guide them back by satellite, Fowler said lights remain a critical part of safety.

“It's an extreme help to know where the entrance to the harbor is,” said Coast Guardsman Jason Fowler.

In his eyes, DeVries said, his group already has “a full plate” and would not be interested owning it, but hopes the Park Department or some other branch of city government might be. DeVries said he could not imagine any other use for the building, saying it's too cramped inside to offer tours and treacherous to reach during the winter.

Just having it there is valuable enough in terms of drawing artists and other visitors to Indiana's only functioning lighthouse, said Maureen Mellen, director of marketing for the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I think the lighthouse symbolizes who were are,” she said.

In 1997, the U.S. Coast Guard planned to remove the catwalk, which extends along the East Pier to the lighthouse, in a cost-cutting measure. The overhead walkway was one of the few well-preserved structures of the type remaining on the lakes, and, along with the lighthouse, was considered a symbol of the city.

Local historic preservationists raised money to refurbish and maintain the catwalk after it was acquired from the Coast Guard. The pier itself is a navigation structure, part of the city's harbor, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie agrees, but before the city moves he wants to find out what the possibility liabilities and financial responsibilities will be. “We just found out about this today,” said Oberlie of the GSA's Wednesday announcement. “It's in our best interests to make sure it's used properly.”

The mayor said a group from the City Council, Park Board, Board of Works and the public is being put together to study the issue. The city has until July to respond to the GSA offer. Oberlie said he wants to find out the responsibilities of the city in maintaining the light and horn, the maintenance of the steel structure and other requirements.

In accordance with the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, the 55-foot tower on a concrete base on the east side of Michigan City's breakwater is offered “as is.”

And it's being offered at no cost to other federal, state or local agencies or nonprofit corporations, by the GSA. Whoever accepts ownership must use it for education, park, recreation, cultural or historic preservation purposes. The GSA serves as the federal government's centralized procurement and property management agency. It manages one-fourth of the government's procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,300 government-owned or leased buildings.

GSA has transferred 35 historic light stations out of Coast Guard ownership through the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, officials said.

In recent years, lighthouses have been given away or sold because the Coast Guard no longer has the manpower or resources to maintain them, said GSA spokeswoman Paula Santangelo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's next

€ The lighthouse will be offered first to federal, state and local government agencies or nonprofit corporations. If there is no interest, it then will go for bid in the private sector.

€ Local officials are putting together a group of people from the City Council, Park Board, Board of Works and the public to study the issue.

[Ang]

I'll come back to City if I can live in the lighthouse. The first thing I would do if I owned the lighthouse is to reinstall the foghorn. MAN!! I miss that more than anything from my youth.

[Max Main]

Can you believe Oberlie has to think about it? Sheesh. Just take it and figure out the maintenance.

[Ang]

I was thinking that the Park Dept should have it. Afterall, it is located in their park and they sponser events and such that include the lighthouse (fireworks to name one) so they should have it and be responsible for it and maintain it.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Ang is right; but how will they get the money? How much is involved?

[Ang]

The lighthouse is being given away for free to anyone who wants it, so to obtain the lighthouse will cost the Park Dept nothing--if they want it.
As far as maintenance and upkeep--I have no idea. I can't imagine it would cost too much but one never knows. I guess they would have to talk to the Coast Guard and ask for maintenance records or something.

[Southsider2k12]

I am saddened that we didn't have a more definative statement from anyone issued about the Lighthouse. Just the thought of losing it is depressing, and with our history of not protecting our institutions, nothing would surprise me.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Oberlie 'just found out' about this--problem when someone who reads the ND told him about it.

[Southsider2k12]

This is pretty much how I feel about this...

http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/20..._rick/col19.txt

City should seek lighthouse at once
Rick A. Richards

Maybe now is the time to rethink Michigan City's signature. Instead of a lighthouse, we could use a prison watchtower.

Or the NIPSCO generating station.

Those sound like pretty goofy ideas, but not any more goofy than Wednesday's announcement by the federal government that it wants to give away the city's landmark lighthouse.

That's right, they want to give it away. Free.

Of course there are a few strings attached, like making sure it still operates as a lighthouse and that it be used “for education, park, recreation, cultural or historic preservation purposes.”

The General Services Administration surprised everyone Wednesday - including city officials - when it announced that Michigan City's lighthouse was now considered “excess to the needs of the federal government.” That's why feds decided to offer the property “as is and where is without representation, warranty, or guarantee as to quality, quantity, title, character, condition, size or kind.”

What that really means is that the feds don't want to pay for its upkeep anymore. They're looking for someone else to take over that financial burden. Anyone interested in what is officially known as the “Michigan City East Pierhead Light” needs to send a letter to the GSA's Property Disposal Division in Chicago and let them know of their interest.

Local or state government gets first dibs, followed by not-for-profit organizations. After that, things are pretty much up in the air, but if no one is interested, GSA spokeswoman Paula Santangelo said it would most likely be operated by the Coast Guard.

This is a no-brainer, folks. It's Michigan City's lighthouse. It belongs to us. Without the lighthouse at the city's lakefront, Michigan City is just another town with a nice beach. The lighthouse is what sets us apart from every other community between Chicago and St. Joseph, Mich. It's the only lighthouse in the state and it's undoubtedly the most photographed building in the city.

Michigan City should take it over. It should become one of the focal points of Washington Park.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie said Wednesday that while the city was interested in taking over the lighthouse, he wanted to set up a group of city officials and members of the public to study the issue. What's to study?

Either Michigan City wants it or it doesn't. If the city wants it - and it should - then move on it. The city has until July 2 to response to the GSA offer, but why wait?

The mayor said he's worried about potential liability and the cost to maintain the building. The liability can't be any more than it is for the Observation Tower and the city seems to cope just fine with that.

And if the concern is about the cost, then set up a separate entity to operate it. Private donations helped the city save the landmark catwalk along the pier. It can do the same thing with the lighthouse.

The Michigan City Historical Society says it's not in a position to take it over, so there's no possibility of anyone's feelings being hurt by creating something new to take charge of the lighthouse.

This is a huge opportunity for the city. Sure it's going to cost money, but there are all sorts of possibilities available - grants, private donations, even the possibility of a fee to tour the lighthouse or even take a guided walking tour from the Old Lighthouse Museum along the pier to the lighthouse. Who wouldn't want to pay a couple of bucks to take a look inside the lighthouse?

I've always wondered what it was like inside and I'm sure a lot of other people have wondered the same thing.

A walk along the pier and a view out the windows of the lighthouse would be a heck of a lot more appealing than the view from the top of a prison watchtower.

Rick A. Richards is city editor of The News-Dispatch. He can be reached at rrichards@thenewsdispatch.com or at 874-7211, Ext. 441.

[RexKickass]

I think the city's right for doing a little study and making sure that the lighthouse is something that city can easily maintain. Even worse than having the city not take the lighthouse of the Fed's hands would be having it need to be destroyed shortly after assuming control.

[Southsider2k12]

It took a couple of months to get through the redtape, but it looks like Chuck Oberlie is going to do the right thing here, and try to take control of the historic Lighthouse.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=44069.45

City Seeking To Acquire Lighthouse
Mayor says a letter has been filed with federal officials for landmark.

Rick Richards
City Editor, The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Mayor Chuck Oberlie said Friday that Michigan City filed a letter with the U.S. General Services Administration saying the city is interested in acquiring the Michigan City lighthouse.

"Everybody seemed to agree on the need to keep the lighthouse in the city's hands," Oberlie said. "Since we already own the catwalk, it made sense to go for the lighthouse."

The city took over ownership of the walkway in 1997 and preserved it after the federal government announced plans to dismantle it.

On May 2, officals announced the federal government had declared the Michigan City lighthouse - along with lighthouses in several other communities around the country - as excess property.

Oberlie said the next step is up to the federal government, and it could take up to two years before a decision is made. Under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, the federal government has been conducting an inventory of all lighthouses in the country.

Those deemed vital will remain under federal control, but those considered excess are being made available to other government or nonprofit entities. So far, 35 lighthouses have been taken over by local governments.

Oberlie said Michigan City was the only organization that filed a letter with the GSA.

"We've let them know we're interested," Oberlie said. "We've formed a committee to review the process to find out what it's going to take to maintain the lighthouse."

That committee included representatives of both the city's Port Authority and the Park Department. Oberlie said that if the city acquires the lighthouse, one of those agencies will be responsible for it.

Details of what the city will be required to do aren't yet known yet, but Oberlie said the Coast Guard will continue to operate it as a lighthouse.

"The documents we have includes a provision that easement be granted to the Coast Guard to maintain the light," Oberlie said.

Contact City Editor Rick A. Richards at news@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Roger Kaputnik]

I hope the Mayor does not find a way to mess this up.

[Ang]

My Dad and I were talking about this issue. He said they've got it for sale for a $1. I told him I would buy it. He said "what would you do with it?" I said, "Live in it." He told me that I couldn't, that I had to be not-for-profit organization. I told him I should qualify then cause I haven't made a profit in over 20 years. He asked me how I would get back and forth during the winter. I said "Catwalk" He said I couldn't cause the City owns that. I told him they would let me if I offered to salt it and remove the ice and snow for free. He said they wouldn't let me do that cause it would ruin the winter pictures. Bummer.

[Southsider2k12]

On the bright side, giving directions out to your place would be really easy

[Ang]

Yeah, but all my out-of-town friends would have to pay to park when they visited me.

[Southsider2k12]

For those who are interested, the ND poll of the day is whether or not the City should buy the Lighthouse. So far it is 78%-22% for "yes".

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=54042.39

Future Of Lighthouse Considered
City needs to look at financial liabilities of acquiring local landmark.

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Determining the extent of potential financial liabilities and responsibilities of the Michigan City lighthouse is the city's next step in acquiring it.

The lighthouse was declared excess property by the U.S. General Services Administration in May and was offered for free if used for the public good. So far, 35 lighthouses across the country have been taken over by local governments.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie said the city sent a letter to

the GSA in July expressing interest in acquiring the lighthouse, considered a landmark and symbol of Michigan City. The city took over the walkway leading to the lighthouse in 1997, preventing it from being torn down.

Michigan City must file an application with the U.S. Department of the Interior in January before ownership can be transferred.

Oberlie said the city has hired the engineering firm Abonmarche, based in Benton Harbor, Mich., to analyze the structure, considered an "historic light station."

City Planner John Pugh is heading a team assigned to look at the pros and cons of owning the lighthouse.

Other members represent the city's Port Authority and Park Department.

"The feeling of the mayor and the community is we should have it," Pugh said. "We've made a decision we'd like to have it."

But he said it's important to find out what kind of shape it's in before taking on what could become a financial albatross.

"The engineering firm will do a structural analysis and identify any environmental aspects," Pugh said, such as lead paint.

The analysts will also estimate the cost of routine maintenance of the lighthouse.

Michigan City already owns a lighthouse, Oberlie noted. The Old Lighthouse Museum, the city's former lighthouse, is a structure that allows public accessibility. The current lighthouse is narrow and has one ladder going from top to bottom, allowing access to one person at a time.

No matter who ends up owning the lighthouse, it will continue to function as a navigation aid according to U.S. Coast Guard regulations and historic preservation guidelines.



Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Roger Kaputnik]

I do not understand how anyone could vote for the negative.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=44229.42

Buying a local Icon

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Michigan City has cleared federal government hurdles and will soon become the owner of a slightly used but beloved lighthouse at the harbor entrance.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie shared the news with the City Council on Tuesday.

"It's an important piece of our city's history," Oberlie said. "The lighthouse is the most recognized symbol of our city. Just as it has called sailors to our port for safety, it calls our citizens and visitors to the lakefront."

Although the city doesn't yet own the lighthouse, the General Services Administration is preparing the deed to transfer title to Michigan City. The GSA declared the lighthouse excess property in 2007, opening an opportunity for the city to apply to acquire it. The federal government has said it will continue operating it as a navigational lighthouse.

Before filing the application, city officials commissioned a study to determine the extent of potential financial liabilities for repairs and upkeep. According to Oberlie, the city's application included three phases of work, from critical to minor:

•Phase I (Critical) $17,800: repair floor and steel, clean/paint frames, windows, beams, walls and roof structure

•Phase II (Serious) $56,550: etch and seal concrete floor, clean and paint; exterior spot clean and paint entire exterior

•Phase II (Minor) $6,970: painting and glass replacement

The Board of Works will seek funding in the 2010 budget for all three phases, Oberlie said, but the work will be done in the order of importance, starting with the critical repairs.

The Port Authority will manage the lighthouse and take responsibility for work done on it, Oberlie said.

The city took over the walkway on the pier leading to the lighthouse in 1997, preventing it from being torn down. Nationwide, some 35 lighthouses across the country have been taken over by local governments.

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Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.