Council agrees to flood property transfer

FINDLAY — Findlay City Council voted to take ownership of five flood properties from Hancock County on Tuesday, despite concerns about possible environmental hazards on at least two. The transfer was approved through two ordinances. The vote was 7-2 on both, with council members Holly Frische, R-1, and Jim Niemeyer, R-6, opposed. Council members Grant Russel, R-at-large, and Josh Palmer, R-7, were absent from Tuesday's meeting. Two of the properties, 339 Wilson St. and 410 E. Sandusky St., were purchased by Hancock County with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and come with deed restrictions that would require them to remain under public ownership. Three properties, located at 817 E. Main Cross St., two at 230 E. Front St. and 615 Howard St., have no FEMA restrictions, but any future use would need to align with the city's attempts to clear the Blanchard River's floodway. On Tuesday, much of the discussion focused on the future use of the patchwork of parcels. While Frische argued that it would be better to allow the county to remediate, auction off or find a future use for the properties, both Mayor Christina Muryn and Councilman Dan DeArment, R-4, said it would be better for the city to take the properties and have control of their future use. Muryn said that would include environmental testing and remediation, if necessary. The transfer came at no cost to the city, and for now, maintenance will be the only additional expense to the budget. Auditor Jim Staschiak, who has said it would be irresponsible for the city to take the properties without requiring Phase II environmental studies first, was silent during Tuesday's discussion. Staschiak has repeatedly cautioned council about the potential liabilities involved with taking ownership of properties with unknown environmental conditions, especially in the city's downtown. He has said the city is not insured for environmental liabilities. Environmental records held by the city show that property along the river is riddled with abandoned/orphaned tanks, drums and household hazardous waste associated with debris from the flood of August 2007. There is also the potential for contamination from businesses once located in the area, including a dry cleaner, junkyard, gas station and machine shop. Historically, riverfront property was used as a dumping ground, even by the city. For example, Civitan Park, 100 Taylor St., was backfilled with "municipal waste" in the 1930s, after the Blanchard River was rerouted through the city, according to the records. A record of a single soil boring on one of the East Front Street properties, a former junkyard, shows lead was found in the soil, according to Staschiak.