Ocqueoc Outdoor Center dodges wrecking ball

Plans by the Department of Natural Resources to demolish the Ocqueoc Outdoor Center have been put on hold, following a massive grassroots effort to protest the action.

?We found out the DNR planned to knock down all the buildings at the facility during the first week of December,? said MSU Extension Community and Economic Development Agent Mary Ann Heidemann to the County Development Commission (CDC) last Thursday.

?They (DNR) felt they (the buildings) were a liability and the MUCC had been leasing them for summer camp, but were not doing that this year, so the decision was very short term and final.?

According to Heidemann, a number of individuals and groups began calling to protest the order.

?Harry Whiteley was extremely key in being able to get a meeting with the individual who heads up the Parks and Recreation division and the regional director who has supervision over the site,? Heidemann said.

A group of people met including Dave Glenn, Kammie Dennis, Heidemann and Harry Whiteley and found the DNR could hardly believe anyone was interested in the center.

The group was told they?d need a letter from the county board of commissioners showing intent to take over the site.

?I WENT to the county board and we drafted a letter and the county board sent it,? Heidemann explained. ?Today I got a fax of an initial response from Mr. Schuitt, head of Parks and Recreation.?

According to Heidemann, the entity has looked into the matter to see if the property can legally be transferred. The camp was reverted land and Parks and Rec is allowed to ?spin it off? to another responsible party.

?The way is clear if an agreement can be reached, to have it transferred,? Heidemann announced. ?The forms that were sent would have it transferred ?fee simple? as opposed to a long term lease.?

CDC board member Val Jaroch expressed the township?s opinion. ?We feel the same way…let?s save it and maybe we can utilize it. We?d like to submit a (township) letter of support along with Heidemann?s support.

?I hope if the county doesn?t get it maybe the township will,? Jaroch added.

MSU EXTENSION Director Dave Glenn said, ?We need to consolidate the ideas on this issue now and hold more public meetings on it with a central use or multiple compatible uses for the center.

?There also needs to be an evaluation of the buildings. We don?t believe the buildings are as bad as the DNR made them out to be.?

Heidemann said the there would be restrictions to make sure the center had some kind of public use or it would revert again to the state.

?The Commissioners asked for six months to come up with a purpose for the center,? Heidemann told the board.

Heidemann mentioned several possible uses such as Elder Hostel trips and Watershed Project usage.

IN OTHER business:

?Clarkson Most presented information on a ?Children of Children? Exhibit created by Michael Nye to demonstrate the effects of teenage pregnancy. The 50 black and white photographs of people whose lives have been affected by teen pregnancy are accompanied by audio narratives recorded by the person photographed.

The exhibit is being staged in Onaway at the HUB Youth Recreation Center December 1-6. Viewing hours are 4-7 p.m., and 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on December 6.

?The board approved paying travel expenses for Jeff Hopp to be included in the four-person group to attend the December 11 ?Cool Cities? meeting in Lansing. The group will include Hopp, Anne Belanger, mayor Beach Hall, and Rogers City manager John Bruning. The expenses will include tuition, mileage, meals, and one hotel night.

The four will gather information and prepare an ?Action Plan? for Rogers City to be presented in January.

?In the Economic Development Corporation

(EDC) portion of the meetings, Heidemann received inquiries from real estate companies wanting to know why they were not being brought into the selling of the commercial Renaissance Zone lots.

It was decided to go with the marketing committee?s recommendation for a single party listing agreement and commission through July 31, 2005 at $400 per acre with a $750 minimum with expenses to be shared with the city of Rogers City.

?We want Mary Ann (Heidemann) to be present when the property is shown to make sure the questions can be correctly answered to potential buyers,? said marketing committee member Linda Taylor.

?We?d like to keep the invitation to brokers in Presque Isle County. We know it?s a long shot idea, but we?d like to maximize any and every opportunity available.?