February 2025

 I use my newsletter space this month to praise St. Louis firefighters and municipal employees who responded quickly on Dec. 29, when high winds broke a utility pole behind 4 Seasons Gym downtown, causing at least $37,000 in damage. 

Firefighters were first to arrive. “You could see the pole was broken in two locations landing all three transformers on the roof of the building,” said Fire Chief Bill Coty. “Gratiot County Central Dispatch notified St. Louis Electric Department, and they arrived fairly quickly to start the process of shutting down electric service to the buildings.”

It was all hands on deck for the Electric Department, as Foreman Mike Parsons turned out along with Jake Oswald, Todd Leslie, Kipp Krenz, Jon Ruggenstein and 

Ryan Roehrs from DPW. (It was Parsons’ last emergency for the city, as he retired less than a week later after 30 years on the job.)

“As we awaited the Electric Department to shut the circuit down, we secured all driveways in the alley and contacted key holders to eventually make access to the buildings,” Coty said. “Meanwhile we surveyed buildings externally utilizing thermal imaging cameras to insure we had no fire inside. Once the circuit was de-energized, firefighters made access to all buildings, completed inspections for potential fire dangers, then shifted gears to water collection and property conservation. With the hole in the roof, we had significant water entering the building. Firefighters brought in 55-gallon trash barrels, a fire department generator and sump pump. We essentially collected water in the trash barrel and pumped it out the window to the outside, mediating any additional water damage. 

Electric department personnel went right to work replacing the pole and repairing the wiring. 

“It's worth noting,” Coty added, “that firefighters managed down poles and lines in three other areas along with multiple trees down outside of the city, all at the same time. This wind created widespread damage.”

Also turning out was City Manager Kurt Giles, who said, “The decision was made that evening to continue working on replacing the damaged pole, transformers and both the primary and secondary electric cables but wait until at least Monday morning to restore service to the buildings in the 100 block of North Mill. 

“As it turned out, it took longer than originally expected to take apart the damaged components and start reconstructing lines and equipment,” Giles continued. 

“It ended up being later in the afternoon on Monday, Dec. 30, before they were ready to reenergize those services along with service to Commercial Bank, Subway and the traffic signal at Main Street and M46. By Monday afternoon, just before dark, service began to be restored, and building owners were able to access their facilities to make sure electrical systems were functioning properly.”

Unfortunately, the gym suffered more damage than a hole in the roof. According to the Gratiot County Herald, gym owner Dan Eilts reported that seven treadmills, three ellipticals, the furnace, every door-related electrical systems, every computer, every security camera, several TVs, the tanning beds, a laptop, the cash register and the sauna were damaged or effectively destroyed by a power surge. Eilts estimated the cost of replacing or repairing everything will exceed $37,000. A Go Fund Me page was set up by Austin Smith in hope of raising the money. To find the page, get online and search for “4seasons gym gofundme.”