Jefferson city clerk Diane Kennedy briefed the city council June 23 on a clean-up project under way in the 200 block of S. Vine St south of Jefferson Telecom.
Alliant Energy undertook demolition of a century-old brick building located there and found contaminated soil. The site is just north of the city’s former water plant, with a 10-inch main running adjacent to the clean-up site. She said there will be considerable exaction done there soon. “If that comes over on our property, of course they’ll be responsible for cleaning it up,” Kennedy said.
City engineer John Milligan said the bigger concern is that the contaminant is hydrocarbons from diesel fuel, likely stored underground to power an emergency generator. He is concerned about a city well and water distribution lines nearby. “If the source (of the contamination) is where I think it is, it’s probably pretty well contained with just the building foundations. We just need to come up with a plan to protect our water sources,” Milligan said.
The site drew a lot of interest from sidewalk supervisors last Thursday when a large backhoe toppled on its side. It took several hours for Barnhart Crane & Rigging Company to send equipment heavy enough to get the disabled backhoe back on its treads.
No one was injured in the incident.
