City extends boundaries of Mount Pleasant Center land to tribe

Boundaries have been redrawn to grant the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe ownership of a building and land on the Mount Pleasant Center property that had initially been left out of the tribe’s survey.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and the City of Mount Pleasant both own pieces of the 300-plus acre parcel on the northwest edge of Mount Pleasant previously owned by the state until 2011.

At the time the conveyance was made, it was realized one of the buildings used by the Michigan Industrial Indian Boarding School was left out of the tribe’s survey. As soon as this was realized, a transfer of additional land from the city to the tribe was planned, said City Manager Kathie Grinzinger.

“In order for the state to get rid of property it must pass legislation, and when the legislation was written it put property surveys in with the tribe’s survey describing what would go to tribe,” Grinzinger said. “However, that didn’t include one building, so back in the early parts of negotiations we said that we would redo those boundaries to make sure all buildings reverted to them.”

At Monday night’s Mount Pleasant City Commission meeting, commissioners approved the transfer in a 6-1 vote.

Mayor Bruce Kilmer was authorized to complete the transfer by signing the quick claim deed.

The new deed and the survey not only brings in the building that was inadvertently left out, but it also provides access to the tribe to their own property through a small drive to the north side, Grinzinger said.

The new boundary lines go directly through buildings owned by the City of Mount Pleasant.

The city still retains rights to these buildings and will manage their upkeep until demolition.

“The deed has an easement stating we will care for them until it comes down,” Grinzinger said. “Then the tribe gets the land underneath the building.”

Frank Cloutier, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe public relations director, said it important for the tribe to have enough of the buildings and land to facilitate a rehabilitation for some or all of that property.

“There’s been discussion about building a memoriam or some type of educational facility there,” Cloutier said. “We’ve formed a committee that is looking into those. So far there are no definite plans.”

For the city’s portion, there are also no definite plans for what will become of the land.

Grinzinger said a highest and best use study will be presented in January or February to the public.

“That’s really the kickoff to the planning for the property,” she said. “We’re also in the process of applying for funding through the state for loans or grants to finance the demolition of buildings and the asbestos cleanup.”

Grinzinger said the city hopes to finish applications by 2012 and be able to begin demolition in 2013.