OTTUMWA —
The Ottumwa Brownfield Project is chugging along, though few in the community have expressed interest.
The railroad and Hayne Street corridor and the Main Street corridor emerged following a “windshield tour” conducted last year. Brownfields are “real property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The presence of a brownfield could impact health, decrease property values, deter potential investors or present safety hazards.
Following the first community outreach meeting about the Ottumwa Brownfield Project on June 28, only one property owner has expressed interest so far.
The Elks Lodge on South Iowa Avenue, where the June meeting was held, has submitted its request as a result of the meeting.
Jody Gates, director of health, inspections and solid waste, said it was unfortunate that a resident who interrupted the June meeting “put a lot of people off from talking.”
Since the program is new to Ottumwa, Gates said she wasn’t sure what she expected in terms of community reaction and participation.
“It’s kind of hard to say,” she said. “Some of the members of the team, especially from Howard R. Green, are making contact with individual business owners in the Hayne Street area to see if business owners might have an interest in participating, in having an evaluation. They’re doing it in a more informal setting.”
Robin Husman, project director for HR Green, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, emphasized at the June meeting that participation is entirely voluntary after some participants expressed concerns.
The Main Street corridor runs from the U.S. Highway 34 bypass on Roemer Avenue through town on Main Street up to McPherson Avenue.
“That’s a lot of buildings and property owners,” Gates said. “There’ll probably be a lot of people with no interest, and it won’t help them at all. But there could be a few, if their properties haven’t been utilized for a long time, who might have an interest in participating.”
The second community outreach meeting, for those along the Main Street corridor, will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 123 W. Third St.
“We’re inviting all of those folks who have businesses along the Main Street corridor, as well as some residential properties,” Gates said. “The meeting is open to the public.”
There is no minimum number of applicants for the project, Gates said. The only limit is if the city received too many and they ran out of funds, “which so far is not the case.”
The city received $400,000 total in grants for the two areas: one $200,000 grant to assess any petroleum types of hazards on properties and one $200,000 grant for any other type of hazardous material, such as asbestos or lead.
“We don’t actually have the funding in our hands,” Gates said. “We seek reimbursement whenever we expend funds.”
Some of the funding has already been utilized. The city did a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of the property at 327 and 331 E. Main St., which will become the Ottumwa Community Marketplace.
There are two phases of ESAs. In Phase I, the site is researched and reviewed for possible contaminants. In Phase II, soil and groundwater samples are taken.
While Gates said residents who have no interest in ever moving or selling their property will probably have no interest in the program.
“Then there are some of the folks who might have different ideas of where they’re going to be in the next 10 to 15 years,” she said. “This program might benefit them.”
Ottumwa
Few express interest in brownfields project
Public forum for Main Street corridor set for late August
- Ottumwa
-
-
Staff eager for swimmers Beach Ottumwa improvements
OTTUMWA — When kids talk about the last weeks of school, one subject that often comes up is The Beach Ottumwa. It'll be ready soon, said employees. On Friday, the maintenance staff was installing the fountain heads that shoot water straight up at the
-
Community gardens gain ground
OTTUMWA -- In just one month, community gardens have begun to sprout north of Ottumwa. So far, the gardens near the Ottumwa Industrial Park feature 12 raised beds, compost and a compost tumbler, a pallet bench, three oversized tires that will contain
-
Severe weather returns to forecast
OTTUMWA — The National Weather Service believes severe weather could return to Iowa this weekend. The storms are expected to arrive late in the weekend and could extend into the next work week. Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg said Sunday and Monday have
-
Health clinic in Ottumwa joins Mercy Medical
OTTUMWA — Though their future was uncertain, two local health care practices will continue without any interruption in services to patients and will remain at their current locations in Ottumwa. Ottumwa Internal Medicine North and Ottumwa Family Prac
-
Correctional facility will finally open in Ottumwa
OTTUMWA — It won’t be empty anymore. The “new” Ottumwa Residential Treatment Facility, a type of correctional facility, will be open and fully operational next year, reports Iowa Rep. Mary Gaskill. Last year, the building was up, but the Department o
- Remote testimony likely in Ward trial OTTUMWA – Attorneys for former Ottumwa Transit Administration director Pam Ward say they anticipate calling a witness who won't be in the courtroom, and prosecutors say they have no objections. Court documents filed in the case show the defense wants
-
Foundation's gift will change Ottumwa classrooms
OTTUMWA — It would take an investment annually until the year 2020 to get all the computers and training the Ottumwa school district wants. A gift just cut that wait in half. Monday, the Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation announced during a joint pre
-
Savoring sweets to save lives
Evans Middle School student council members dished out ice cream Monday afternoon in an effort to raise funds to place smoke detectors in Wapello County homes.
-
Smoke alarms credited with saving lives
OTTUMWA -- The importance of working smoke detectors was evident after a fire destroyed an Ottumwa family's home on Friday. Four adults and three children were uninjured in a blaze that ruined their home at 621 S. Sheridan Ave. at 5:51 p.m. Friday. Deputy Fire Chief Cory Benge said the house is "pretty much a total loss."
-
Hearsay won't appear in Ward trial, U.S. Attorney says
Despite defense concerns, the U.S. Attorney's office says it doesn't plan on using hearsay testimony in its case against Pam Ward, according to court documents filed Monday.
- More Ottumwa Headlines
-
Staff eager for swimmers Beach Ottumwa improvements
