Gas tank removal pauses site purchase
Most of the Marengo County Commission meeting Tuesday revolved around the possible purchase and cleanup of the property across from the courthouse to provide more parking.
Griffin Gatschet, representing CDG Engineers & Associates, walked the Commission through the estimated costs of cleanup of the former gas station site and the steps the county would need to take to be in compliance.
At the end, the Commission decided to table opening demolition bids, further investigate the purchase and vote on the proposal at the July meeting. Two contractors attending the meeting were asked to rebid the proposal after a new bid package was sent to them giving more clarification to the work needed, including the possible removal of asbestos. CDG Engineers were hired to check the asbestos.
Gatschet said the site has two 8,000-gallon tanks, installed in 1979, which have been abandoned by now defunct Bessemer Oil. Since the tanks currently are out of ADEM compliance, Marengo County would have to apply to be eligible for the ADEM Trust Fund to pay for any cleanup needed after a $5,000 deductible.
“The Trust Fund is a fantastic fund,” said Gatschet. “It provides a lot of assurances that the property can be used.”
In addition to bids to dig up the tanks and demolish the buildings on the site, the county would be responsible for back taxes of $844, CDG’s $2,500 fee and the cost of pumping out the fluid now in the tank.
Commissioners voted last month to execute a sales agreement for the property with a payment of $100. The remaining purchase price of $10,000 will be paid in cash on the final sale.
Bids on two projects were approved. Sheffield Lawn Care was the lowest bidder for lawn care of county property at $250 per service. W.B. Builders presented the low bid for striping at $25,108.
The Commission approved a resolution for professional services to hire the engineering firm Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood for three years. The resolution is needed for the county to be eligible to apply for any CDBG grants for construction projects.
Wesley Hodges, founder and CEO of the Hodges Foundation, asked the Commission for a non-binding letter of support to be the financial allocation resource for Marengo County.
Hodges said his foundation works throughout the Black Belt region, from Texas to Virginia. Its one mission, he said, is “to improve the quality of life.”
The advantage of working with the foundation, he continued, is that it would offer the county another way to get funding if it is ineligible to apply for funding because of open grants.
Revenue Commissioner Sharon Hilbish received approval for her annual report to the state comptroller showing no uncollected taxes or any taxes in litigation.