MONROE — To save the Deerfield River from pollution by the collapse of an old mill building, the state will give the town $520,000 to demolish the rotting wooden “green building,” remove hazardous waste, and to replace it with a public park under permanent conservation restrictions.
“It’s in all our interests to demolish the building, rather than have it collapse into the river,” said Kurt Gaertner, director of land policy and planning for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “We’d really love to get that mill building torn down before winter snow does it.”
On Nov. 14, special town meeting voters authorized the town to take the condemned former paper mill by eminent domain. On Wednesday, state officials met with Monroe selectmen and officials from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments. Gaertner said Monroe officials signed an agreement with the state.
“For over a century, Massachusetts has led the nation in providing residents with exceptional access to the state’s environmental resources through various conservation efforts,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The Baker-Polito Administration continues to prioritize outdoor recreational opportunities, and the creation of a new park within … Monroe is a great example of many stakeholders working together to accomplish a common goal that will truly benefit the community and the region.”
A second special town meeting will take place Nov. 28, in which townspeople will be asked to place permanent conservation restrictions on the land, so that it always remains a park. This is a requirement for the state’s $520,000 grant funding.
The property owner has not paid taxes since 1999, nor has he responded to efforts by the town to contact him. The property was condemned by the town’s building inspector last year, and this wooden section of the mill building has deteriorated since then.
“We’re very excited about a public park,” said Gaertner. “Not only are we eliminating a hazard but creating a real asset for the town and the community.”
“We’re pushing to do it as soon as we possibly can,” Gaertner continued. He said Tighe and Bond Engineering is preparing a bid package, and the hope is that demolition could start within five to six weeks. He said the hazardous waste materials, including lead and asbestos, would probably take three to four days to remove, and the demolition itself would take about two weeks.
“It’s a challenging site, in that they need heavy equipment,” said Gaertner. He added that a blue tarp on the roof — apparently meant to keep water out — has come off. “That’s another good reason to get this building down,” he said.
“I am in awe of the amount of support and resources that have come to the table to help turn our old dilapidated mill into something beautiful,” said Selectman Carla Davis-Little. “I’m thankful to give back to the town that raised me in such a positive way. Everyone involved has come together effortlessly to make this project a reality.”
Davis-Little said she believes the project “is going to make the town look nicer,” and may encourage someone to fix up the larger brick mill building that adjoins the green building.
When told that the town has the money to demolish the building, Bruce Lessels, co-owner of Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont, said it was great news. “Taking the building down and doing something positive is great all around,” he remarked. Lessels said Zoar takes rafters up to the river, across from the old paper mill.
The only concern is whether the demolition can take place before strong winter weather sets in.
The grant money secured for this project include: $30,000 from TransCanada, which owns dams on the river; $100,000 from the FRCOG Brownfields Program to clean up hazardous materials; $150,000 from the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental affairs for demolition and securing the site; and $370,000 from that same state office to construct a public park on that site in fiscal year 2018, if the town commits to maintaining the park.
According to information from FRCOG, the No. 5 Station Dam, operated by TransCanada, has 32 scheduled days of water releases from May-October, that create Class II to IV rapids along this area of the Deerfield River. Across from the wood structure is a stairway and boat slide, and river access platform. This facility is used by several companies that offer whitewater rafting excursions to thousands of visitors each year. Also, independent groups of rafters and individual kayakers use these facilities. TransCanada created and maintains these and other facilities along the Deerfield River.