LANSING, Mich. — Residents in Perry are working to save the Calkins-Macqueen House.
In July, the city council approved $15,500 worth of repairs, but the mayor vetoed it for financial reasons.
Thursday night, council members will have to decide whether or not they want to override that veto.
"Long-term, the ability for the city to maintain and take care and restore this to its original state is well into the six figures, and that's not really something that at this point we feel our constituents want us to do," said Perry City Council member Adam Grass.
Charles Calkins built the house in 1879.
His daughter, Bessie Macqueen, left it to the city when she died in 1941 with the condition that it remain in tact.
"To maintain this home, maintains the integrity of our community," said Perry resident Nancy Griffith-Parrish.
200 people have signed a petition at the local Mugg & Bopps to tell the council to go ahead with the repairs.
"The roof over the front of the home needs repair, and because of the downspout and gutter problems, the whole home needs to be repainted," said Billy Roback with the Perry Historical Society.
"The concern I have personally as a council member is, what happens three, six, nine, 12 months from now? Are we going to be looking for another 20, another $50,000 to put into the place? And that's where the problems arise," said council member Grass.
News 10 reached out to Mayor James Huguelet but did not hear back.
The Perry City Council meets Thursday, August 15 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
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