Lamb-Steele renovations complete

Imlay City Mayor J. Rodney Warner, flanked by Imlay City Police Chief John Stano (left) and Lapeer County EMS Executive Director Galland Burnham and other local officials, snips a blue ribbon Saturday marking the opening of the new emergency services facility in the lower level of the Lamb-Steele Memorial Building. IMLAY CITY — As trickor treaters gathered for the city’s annual Merchant Treat Walk, city officials snipped a blue ribbon Saturday morning marking the completion of renovations to the Lamb-Steele Memorial Building, converting the lower floor to the city’s police headquarters and a base for Lapeer County EMS.

Chief John Stano and his nine officers moved into the new police facility in July, but City Manager Amy Planck said EMS is waiting for the Intermediate School District to complete work on installing lines for phones and computer systems before moving in.

She added, EMS wanted to hold an open house for the facility before it had crews living there.

Imlay City Police and Lapeer County EMS are occupying space that once housed the Imlay City Health Center.

The 20,000-square-foot Lamb-Steele Memorial Building was built in 1986 with a $1.6 million grant from Zola Steele Lamb and husband, Scott. The Lambs wanted to create a senior citizens and medical complex at the corner of Third and North Cedar streets. The upper level of the building houses the city’s Senior Citizens Center.

Stano said renovations to his portion of the building, which includes extra office space, which may become home to the Imlay City Chamber of Commerce and the Construction Code Authority office, cost the city $20,000.

Galland Burnham, EMS executive director, said he expects to have his crews moved into their new quarters by Nov. 11. They’re leaving a one-time foundry that Lapeer County EMS had shared with Lapeer City Police since 1997. “It was a pretty dark place,” said Burham, “but it served its purpose.

In the old building, one of the ambulances shared space with found bicycles picked up by police and one of the three garage bays served as the police’s evidence locker, said Burnham.

The new facility, which includes a $330,000 garage addition, features a day room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and one-and-a-half baths. Burnham said those renovations cost just under $10,000 with carpet being the biggest expense at $4,000.