[FONT=Verdana]After years of standing idle, the primary building and pole barns at the former Patterson Lake Products site in Pinckney, MI will soon be demolished. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The Village Council has approved a $21,000 contract with Howell-based Regal Recycling Inc. to demolish the buildings, located off Patterson Lake Road south of downtown Pinckney.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]An exact date for demolition at the industrial site hasn't been set. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The property is owned by the village.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The process is expected to take about 60 days to complete, including demolition and removal and disposal of materials and debris from the site. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]The village is working with local and regional first responders, who want to conduct training exercises on the buildings before demolition and possibly during a partial collapse of the main building.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]"It's kind of a rare opportunity, so we're trying to make sure we can take advantage of it," Village President Rebecca Foster said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Those plans will be ironed out before a demolition date is set. Permits must also be approved before work begins.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]An environmental study of the property conducted in April indicated traces of iron and lead in groundwater, and lead, arsenic and cyanide in the property's soil, among other reportedly hazardous substances.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The field report also revealed material containing asbestos and lead paint in the property's main building. The asbestos was removed in December, and the first responders won't come in contact with the lead, Foster said. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Completing the study was a required first step in plans to demolish the buildings and redevelop the property.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]All on-site workers