Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 2:30 pm on June 5, 2024, to include comments from Shell station owner Gursimer Singh about the fuel lines.
CENTERBURG — The pumps at the Centerburg Shell station are again flowing after owner Gursimer Singh replaced the fuel lines.
The station resumed fuel operations on May 31.
Contrary to initial reports, there was no hole in the underground tank. Central Ohio Joint Fire Chief Mark McCann corrected his May report at Monday’s village council meeting.
“I was initially told the big underground tank had a hole. If it had a crack, it had to be removed,” he told council members.
“It did not have a hole. The lines were a problem. There was nothing wrong with the tank.”
Singh told Knox Pages on June 5 that he started monitoring from inside the station after meeting with McCann and Dave Israel of the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR).
Monitoring showed the tank was okay. Singh then called the Oscar W. Larson Co., a petroleum contractor.
“After they did testing, they found only one line that was leaking, the unleaded line,” Singh said. “The premium and diesel lines were okay.”
Workers had to break open the concrete to replace the leaking line.
“Once we realized we had to open the concrete, we decided since it was already open, why not replace all of the lines?” Singh explained.
“We decided we might as well do the premium and diesel lines as well, so we upgraded the whole site as a preventive measure to make sure we did not run into this situation again.”
Singh reached out to Buckeye Elm and Spence Environmental Consulting to help resolve the problem.
“Chief McCann and the whole team did a great job,” Singh said. “Everybody worked together and got us up and running again in a timely manner.”
Vent concerns
Village Administrator Teri Wise voiced concern about temporary vents installed to evacuate fuel smell in the town hall building and vapor in the sewer system. She approved the vents temporarily; now, EPA officials say they might be permanent.
“If this is going to be permanent, I want something different,” she said. “If I have I&I problems, the last thing I need is another spot [where it can infiltrate].”
I&I — inflow and infiltration — means water gets into the sewer system.
McCann said he was led to believe the vents would be temporary, around six months. His concern, if they become permanent, is snow plows or fire trucks hitting the one in the alley.
Legislative action
In other Monday-night action, council:
•Approved the permit for the Old Time Farming Festival parade
•Gave a second reading to legislation approving the submission of the 2025 budget, although council has not yet seen the budget numbers
•Gave a second reading to legislation authorizing purchase of three parcels on Clayton and Houck streets from the Centerburg Library for $90,000
•Adjourned into executive session to discuss purchase of property with no action taken
Reports
Village administrator
Wise reported the wastewater treatment plant still has significant I&I.
Crews instituted a manhole inspection program to help identify problem areas and discovered one manhole was missing its cover.
Workers will use the new iPads to log information on each manhole as they progress. Wise estimates there are around 100 manholes. Part of the difficulty is some manholes have duplicate numbers.
“I expect before the end of the month we should be finished with this,” she said.
Wise said she is reviewing the village’s process for handling sludge.
“We are trying to find a place to take liquid sludge – that seems to be becoming an issue,” she said. “Everybody has so much, they’re so full.”
At one time, the village took its sludge to Newark, but Newark no longer has the capacity. Wise said it would be easier if the sludge were dry.
Council briefly discussed the cost of drying the sludge. Mayor Greg Sands said the village would probably recoup its cost of a building in two years.
HOOT count
Wise reported usage on the Heart of Ohio Trail is increasing. According to data from the counter installed earlier this year, 53% of April users were walkers, and 47% were cyclists.
Over Memorial Day weekend, a cyclist group chose Centerburg as its starting point and used the parking lot at the corner of Main and Clayton streets.
Since tracking started in April, 14,527 pedestrians and cyclists used the trail.
Additional VA news:
•Eighteen property owners received assessment letters for nonpayment of taxes; 12 paid, and six (totaling $3,000) will begin the recoupment process.
•Facebook followers increased by 2% in May.
•Forty-six village signs met ODOT’s standards for reflectivity; 30 did not. Workers will replace the 30 signs and identify where to place or remove others.
COJFD
Chief McCann said the department will partner with the American Red Cross on a smoke detector program. Residents can call 1-844-207-4509 to schedule a time for a free home safety visit and smoke alarm installation. The Red Cross is donating the alarms for free.
“Once we get the village done, we’ll move out to the townships,” he said.
Other actions by COJFD:
•Selected a new billing company and is again billing for EMS runs. The department has not received EMS money since January.
•Received a $10,000 grant from the State Fire Marshall’s Office and applied for a $152,000 grant
•Learned the engine that blew its motor is under warranty and sent it for repair
•Had a successful car show and flower sale, netting around $7,000 for Honor Flight
USA Days
Councilman Daniel Hardwick reported plans continue for the Heart of Ohio USA Days fundraiser on June 29.
The festival committee has not submitted an event permit. Hardwick said the committee does not recognize the village’s authority to require a permit because the event is on school grounds, not public property.
“If they don’t follow the rules, they may not be able to have the festival at all,” Councilman Tom Stewart said.
Public participation
Ryan Altizer told council he has a legal survey regarding Cherry Alley at 52 and 70 Washington St. He will pursue his request for the village to vacate the alley with the planning commission.
Speaking on behalf of his mother, Dave Ramey asked how to annex 7 acres behind 206 N. Clayton St. into the village. He will follow up with Wise.
Councilman Greg Myers noted that a solicitor has been selling electricity around town, and another has tried to sell extra asphalt. Any solicitor must get a permit from the village.
