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Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Environment - Yet more on: Cleanup of Angola's former Dana site
Updating earlier ILB entries, the Angola Herald-Republican reports today, in a story by Mike Marturello:
If the lack of phone calls, e-mails and conversations are any indication, Steuben County Commmissioners made the right decision in funding the environmental cleanup at the former Dana-Weatherhead property.The phones might stop ringing for members of the Steuben County Council after their Tuesday approval to appopriate the $1 million commissioners approved spending it their Jan. 20 meeting.
The soil and air at and surround the former Dana facility have been polluted with oil and chloride and threaten the city’s water supply. Dana had entered into an arrangement with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to contain the contamination. However, Dana was absolved of any responsibility through bankruptcy protection.
Before the commissioners approved providing $1 million in Major Moves money for the cleanup on Jan. 20, Commissioner Ron Smith said he was inundated with calls and e-mails from people wanting the county to help pay for the estimated $5.5 million cleanup. After the decision was made, the communication stopped. “That should tell you something,” Smith said Tuesday.
While the commissioners approved providing the money to the city of Angola for either environmental remediation or relocating wells, there were no other conditions placed on the funds. The council tightened up the requirements somewhat. “I am not in favor of just handing them a million dollars,” Councilwoman Linda Hansen said.
Ultimately the measure approved by the council allows the money to be spent once it is no longer in an investment vehicle and invoices are presented. The money can only be spent on environmental cleanup or moving wells as it relates to the Univertical property. The measure passed on a 7-0 vote, though in previous meetings of the council it appeared the measure might only squeak through on a 4-3 vote.
As it stands, with $1 million apiece committed by the county, Angola and Univertical owner Chuck Walker, thhe project is still $2.5 million shy of being funded.
IDEM has said it would commit money from the sale of Dana stock it holds to the project. The value of the stock has been estimated at between $210,000 and $3 million.
“We have identified the range of cash we could expect from the settlement, and will work to ensure the most efficient use of those funds,” said Amy Hartsock, spokeswoman with IDEM. “We’ll be working further with all involved parties concerning funding details, and we look forward to working in partnership with the city and the county.”
City officials are working on trying to find other sources of funding to pay for the work. Walker and Angola Mayor Dick Hickman are supposed to meet later this week to discuss progress of the project.
Smith said he was hopeful that economic stimulus money could be used for the cleanup because the project is shovel ready.
City and county officials have contended they needed to take care of the environemtal problem not only because of the threat it poses to the city’s drinking water system, but to the 55 jobs and the potential for growth at Univertical. “It’s not just the environment,” Councilwoman Sara Tubergen said, “it’s all these jobs.”
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 11, 2009 10:59 AM
Posted to Environment