An environmental report examining a Jackson Street property the Columbus parks department wants to purchase for storage showed little contamination and ruled out the presence of asbestos.
The parks department sought a Phase II environmental assessment from Indianapolis-based Ark Engineering Services late last year after local resident Ken Fudge expressed concern that the building might contain PCBs, widely considered a cancer-causing carcinogen.
The first environmental assessment from the engineering services company stated “potential PCB concerns do not appear to be present” at the building.
As for the Phase II assessment, there are about 200 pages in that report, Jones said. And since it has just recently arrived, both city administrators and parks officials need more time to review the contents, the parks director said.
However, Jones told board members he can confirm that no asbestos was found in the building. And while multiple swipes were also made to check for possible soil and water contamination at the property, all tests “came back fine,” he said.
Although one unidentified substance of interest has been discovered on the property, “it doesn’t look to be very bad at all,” Jones told the parks board Thursday.
The environmental testing was initiated by the city after it learned that the property, the site of the former Machinery Moving Inc. had three underground fuel storage tanks installed between 1972 and 1976.
While state records indicate those tanks were removed in 1989, city parks director Mark Jones said engineers could find no local documentation that confirmed their removal from the property at 1360 Jackson St.
Machinery Moving, Inc., an industrial rigging facility, set up small and large heavy machinery at off-site factories and manufacturing facilities. Operations included transportation and storage of various types of machinery until early 2018.
City and parks officials plan to analyze the latest environmental report within the next two weeks, Jones said. “We want to make sure we do our due diligence and have all that information,” Jones said.
After that, the next step would likely be to schedule a meeting with property owner Norma Lienhoop to resume negotiations, he said.
The property owner is the aunt of Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop, who has recused himself from all consideration and deliberation about the purchase.
Mark Levett, park board president, has repeatedly said the city doesn’t intend to use taxpayer money for any environmental remediation, and Jones confirmed on Thursday that position has not changed.
“If any cleanup is required, that will be a key part of the next negotiation,” Jones said.
Jones explained in an earlier interview that the parks department was interested in the property because it is more centrally located for storing mowers and other equipment rather than using storage at the Columbus Municipal AirPark on the north side of the city.
Terms of the proposed deal call for the city to pay for the property over six years, making a $50,000 payment from its cash reserve fund the first year and then making $50,000 annual payments for a total of $250,000 from city capital funds. The property owner offered the payment option, which Jones said was better for the city due to cash flow and cash reserves.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Overview: Machinery Moving Inc. ” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Founded: 1967 on Eighth St. Moved to 1360 Jackson St. in 1971.
Principal owners: Max Luther (1934-2010) and Donald Lienhoop (1934-2017). Donald Lienhoop’s widow, Norma, is the current property owner.
Company purpose: Move heavy machinery used in manufacturing from one location to another.
Area of operation: Although the company worked throughout the Midwest in the 1980s, they largely confined themselves to manufacturers within a 60 mile radius of Columbus by the mid-1990s.
Maximum employees: 15 (in 1995).
Closing of Jackson Street location: Early 2018.
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