[ back ]
Chardon trustees OK door for salt shed
Chardon trustees OK door for salt shed
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
The price was right for Chardon Township last week as it agreed to a condition set down by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on its new salt shed.
Trustees unanimously approved a door for its new salt shed that had been mandated by the state agency. Trustees approved up to $5,000 for a heavy-duty vinyl tarp door for the salt shed at the township garage. J&L Door Services, of Chester Township, is expected to provide the door at a cost of $4,570.
The door was one of several recommendations that the Ohio EPA had given to the township in a Sept. 28 letter.
The letter followed the construction of a tarped salt shed, which had been mandated by the state agency after it filed a report and notice of violation in February 2010.
The report pointed to the township's practice of mixing salt and cinders on a gravel lot. State officials said it was the most likely reason for contamination of nearby residential water wells. The report identified water wells at nine surrounding homes as having been contaminated with salt.
EPA officials said the contamination was one that was of aesthetics, such as odor and taste, rather than presenting a health risk.
"Without a door, wind-blown snow and rain will likely contact operations and materials within the structure, at least within a certain distance of the door," the Sept. 28 letter stated. "This can lead to the release of dissolved salts to the environment either due to equipment tracking or improper housekeeping practices to address puddling within the structure."
Township officials had initially hesitated in installing the door, saying the township was cash-strapped after building the $260,000 salt shed.
Trustee Chairman Steven Borawski said the township was financially strained meeting the costs of the structure and had already taken austerity measures in the township.
He said the township had to eliminate road projects for the coming year and laid off one road worker to be able to afford the structure.
Mr. Borawski said last week the township was originally quoted a price of $10,000 for the door and had been hesitant to purchase it.
He said township road superintendent John Washco, however, was able to find a door that would serve the purpose at a considerable savings over the original quote.
Trustee Michael Brown said the township knew it had a problem when the building was erected because the door had to be oriented to the west, the side of the prevailing winds. "We had no choice," he said. "It was the only way to orient the building."
Mr. Brown said township officials were just as eager to get a door on the building because it will protect its investment in salt for the winter season. "We don't want to waste any materials," he said.
Mr. Borawski said the township has cooperated with state officials in the matter and, in some cases, has gone above and beyond.
He said trustees approved $3,200 for outside and inside drains that will allow the township to monitor whether salt is seeping into soils.
[ back ]
