EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – The cost of the second phase of a project to remediate the former Riverview Florist property will be paid through a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, members of the Community Improvement Corporation learned Thursday.
During the organization’s regular meeting, President Scott Shepherd reported receiving word March 17 that the second phase of environmental work proposed by engineering group Tetra Tech Inc. on behalf of the CIC will be paid fully by the Ohio EPA.
“It is not costing the CIC a dime for work we have to do,” Shepherd said.
“We can’t sell the property without doing that [work],” CIC member Dan Dietz added.
A first-phase assessment was previously conducted on the nearly 81-acre property on Parkway that once housed a greenhouse and trucking company but has been unused for decades.
The city purchased the property and annexed it from Liverpool Township then ultimately transferred it to the CIC, a nonprofit economic development agency, to market.
The Ohio EPA had requested the second phase evaluation of the property’s soil and surface water to facilitate future development.
Among environmental conditions to be considered in the second phase are the property’s long history of greenhouse operations, including the likely use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides; the presence of drums and totes; debris piles and stockpiled vehicle tires; staining on the ground around a paving machine; a 250-gallon storage tank; the suspected presence of underground storage tanks; the former surface mine previously located on a portion of the property; and other concerns.
The total cost of the second phase is $13,284, which includes payment to Tetra Tech.
Shepherd said the third phase of the project will include any required remediation and demolition of structures on the property, for which grant funding will be sought.
Thompson Building Renovations
Shepherd also offered an update on the renovation of the historic Thompson Building in Devon’s Diamond, saying he had submitted a progress report to JobsOhio on March 1.
Some of the recent delay in the renovation work has been due to the developer’s crew having to come in from Pittsburgh, according to Shepherd.
The construction fence surrounding the project should be removed from along Sixth Street soon since work will be focused on the storefronts, Shepherd said, adding the fence on Market Street could be up a little longer, with remediation work beginning near the corner closest to the Diamond Bar and Grill.
Shepherd said the two tenants expected to locate in the renovated building should be in place this summer.
Membership Numbers
Addressing a recurring issue with failing to meet a quorum, Shepherd also reported on his research into the CIC’s bylaws governing membership numbers.
With 18 members allowed, the board had 12 members, eight of whom attended Thursday’s meeting.
Of the 18-member board, four could live outside the city as long as they own a business or work in the city. All of those seats are currently filled. After considerable discussion, the board voted to expand from 18 to 20 members, of which five can now live outside city limits.
This resulted in approving by voice vote new members Jeannette Bailey, Stuart Wallace, Dan Williams and city Councilman Tom Clark, all of whom are city residents.
The board also voted with written ballots on three candidates from outside the city: Norman Butler, Chris DeSarro and Anthony Puorro, with Puorro receiving the most votes.
A Calcutta resident, Puorro owns and operates Always Best Care in the city.
This leaves two memberships open for city residents, as well as one for the executive director’s position, left vacant after the recent retirement of Bill Cowan.
Applications for the positions are being accepted, and Shepherd said the executive director’s position is currently being held open.
The board will meet next at 8 a.m. April 9 in council chambers. Shepherd said he wants to establish a monthly meeting because “we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Pictured at top: The former Riverview Florist property in East Liverpool.