MANSFIELD — Tony Vero almost came clean to Mike DeWine on Tuesday when the Ohio governor came to Mansfield to announce $4 million in state funds for the demolition and remediation of former local Westinghouse sites.
“I think you’ve been a little busy running a state during a pandemic, I believe. We also know you probably spent many days, you and your staff, taking some difficult phone calls. I can’t confirm if Richland County placed any of those phone calls,” Vero said with a laugh.
A Richland County commissioner, Vero was among local officials during the COVID-19 pandemic who were often critical of DeWine’s pandemic-related decisions and shut-down orders.
“You know, we wouldn’t be fair if you had to hear some of those tough phone calls, if you and your staff also didn’t hear ‘thank you’ for today,” Vero said.
“Obviously, it’s a big day for our county and we need to be fair. And on behalf of Richland County, we want to extend our sincere thank you today for helping the Land Bank bring these 14 acres, which was the former Westinghouse property, back to life,” said Vero, who helped spearhead an effort that began in August 2021.
DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted on Tuesday awarded more than $60 million in funding statewide to help local communities clean up dozens of contaminated properties to make way for future economic development.
As part of the new Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program, the Ohio Department of Development is providing funding for 78 projects, including approximately $54.8 million for 37 clean-up projects and $5.5 million for 41 assessment projects. These projects will impact communities in 35 counties across the state.
Richland County was guaranteed $1 million as part of a $500 million statewide brownfield/demolition approved by the state legislature in 2021. DeWine announced another $3 million on Tuesday had been approved for the project, which includes the “A” building and an adjoining 13-acre “concrete jungle.”
Westinghouse: DeWine credits local officials for ‘aggressively’ seeking project approval
Richland County Treasurer Bart Hamilton, chair of the Land Bank, said the grant money, which will be matched as required by $1 million in local funds from county and city governments, is a natural next step.
“It’s another step in a bunch of steps that are going to need to happen to get this thing done,” he said. “There is still a long way to go, but this is good … money makes this happen.”
Hamilton has talked to local officials about making big moves since the state approved the $500 million last year.
“Now is the time to do the big stuff,” he said. “We have the (City of Mansfield) PRIDE tax, which is wonderful. We want to use that to keep doing the normal demolition stuff we do.
“You’re never going to see money like this again. This is the time to do the big stuff, when you can get the big money,” Hamilton said.
Land Bank manager Amy Hamrick said the agency will likely seek bids for the work in early June.
“We have been working on the bid specs now for four or five months,” Hamrick said.
The “A” building is located next to sets of active railroad tracks with multiple trains per day.
“This is a little bit more complicated than taking down a house,” Hamilton said.
“Our specs are going to be a lot more complicated. The location by the tracks is an issue. You’re going to have to have people from the railroad here to monitor the demolition because obviously this track needs to stay open.”
Hamilton said officials have discussed potential demolition techniques, including implosion.
“One of the fun solutions might be where we actually blow the thing up. We could drop it (to the east) because you won’t have to have the guy from the railroad here all the time. You’d only need him here for a few days, but not through the entire demolition process,” Hamilton said.
Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker said he was grateful for the brownfield remediation grant because the former Westinghouse sites have been unknowns in terms of contaminants and pollutions for the past 30-plus years.
He said the factory operated for many years when there were no strict environmental laws, rules and regulations.
“I’m sure there was contamination. As a matter of fact, that’s why when we tore down the old (Westinghouse) power plant, it had so much contamination. It cost over a million dollars to tear that building down and haul everything away to a Pennsylvania landfill. It cost a tremendous amount of money,” Theaker said.
The mayor credited Vero and the Land Bank, where he serves as a board member.
“PRIDE taxes would not have been able to do this building. To try to clean up this whole area, to make it something we can redevelop, is something that’s going to be helpful to the entire area,” he said.
In an emailed press release, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said businesses are looking to expand in Ohio, but require sites ready for development.
“By cleaning up brownfield sites, we are creating locations that are ready to accommodate a business expansion. We are also transforming communities by removing blighted buildings and turning those sites into new opportunities for economic development,” Husted said.
Funds awarded today will help to assess and clean up industrial, commercial, and institutional brownfield sites that are abandoned, idled, or underutilized due to a known or potential release of hazardous substances or petroleum.
After site remediation, properties can be redeveloped to revitalize neighborhoods and attract new economic development.
In addition to the Westinghouse funds, DeWine also on Tuesday announced approval for the following local projects through the Richland County Land Bank.
Project Name: 861 Expressview Drive, $41,250 for cleanup/remediation
Historically a manufacturing and print shop, cleanup at this property involves contaminated soil removal. Following cleanup, Madison Township plans to build a new fire station. This lot is adjacent to current fire station.
Project Name: 111 Orchard, $56,250 for assessment
This site historically operated as a tool and die shop, screw machine shop and golf cart factory and contains unknown chemicals on the property. With Brownfield Remediation Program funds, a Phase I and Phase II assessment will be completed on the property. After assessment and any needed remediation, the Land Bank plans to redevelop the site.
