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ISHPEMING TWP -- The West Ishpeming school has been closed and vacant for over 20 years, and it's been both an eyesore and a hazard for its surrounding neighborhood.

The Marquette County treasurer foreclosed on the property in April, and it has since been taken over by the Land Bank Authority, who plans to demolish it early next week with a $250,000 Brownfield Fund.  But neighbors expressed their concerns at a meeting Thursday night.  They want to make sure all precautions are taken with the demolition.

In 2004, a study determined the condemned school contains asbestos, lead, lead-based paint, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls which can cause cancer.

And while its neighbors want the building gone, they are worried those health hazards will exacerbate during demolition.  But contractors and the DNRE reassured residents at Thursday's Land Bank meeting.

"The building will be torn down safely," said Dale Carrier, with U.P. Abatement.  "We're not going to contaminate the neighborhood as an asbestos abatement contractor and demolition contractor; we are required to follow very stringent rules put forth by the state and federal and local authorities."

If they don't, they could be fined thousands of dollars.

"All demolition activities are required to comply with the federal EPA standard," said Joel Asher with DNRE Air Quality.  "The contractors involved in this project will have to comply with that standard."

Because the property is unsafe to enter, water will constantly be sprayed on the property to contain the asbestos and other health hazards, and air monitors will also be placed around the property's perimeter.  Then the building will be knocked down.

But even with contractors and the DNRE's support, the Land Bank still had trouble convincing some residents their demolition plan is safe.  Some fear that the Land Bank is cutting corners to save money.

"There's more expensive ways of doing it, there's safer ways of doing it," said Eric Hinze, who lives across from the school.  "If you do the job the way you plan on doing it, you are putting people in danger--it's right there in print."

Some residents say more investigation needs to be done before the demolition, as potentially diseased birds have inhabited the building for years.  But unless the EPA stops it, the building will be torn down early next week.  It will take about ten days to complete.

Future property development won't happen for about another year.