The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) requires the city to move forward because the dam is considered in need of repair, and rebuilding it is not financially feasible.
Approval of the design stage keeps Albion eligible for state and federal funding, though construction cannot begin until those dollars are secured.
Resident Rick Lange raised questions about the project’s impact on local homeowners. “Is there a way to hold assessed valuation steady until the project is behind us? And will there be good access to the river so people can come downtown and use the restaurants?” he asked.

Attendance for the presentation was light compared to August’s crowded Washington Gardner sessions, and some struggled to hear due to sound issues. Still, the message was clear: dam removal is a long-term process, with a timeline that could stretch seven years or more before Albion sees the full renewal of its riverfront.