By: James Pruitt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
Williams County and the city of Bryan are still working on resolving the fate of a former gas station site.
The two entities have partnered to split the cost of the first phase of investigation into the site and now are awaiting word if grant money is available to cover environmental testing for Phase 2. County and city officials met with the Board of Commissioners May 23 for a progress report.
The site has been vacant for several years, but neither the county or the city has been able to do anything due to lack of funds. The window of opportunity is leading the entities to resolve the issue finally.
“I feel comfortable it will be covered under grant funding or the revolving fund,” Commission President Brian Davis said. “Both (the city and county) have skin in the game; both will benefit.”
The optimal result is for the county to begin tax foreclosure proceedings on the property which would allow the county to gain access. The site could be handed over to the Port Authority which has the ability to sell it and develop it, Davis said.
“We will sign the document to give us access,” Davis said. “The treasurer and prosecutor will go with foreclosure after Phase 2 is completed.”
The action will allow the county to get all the liens on the property cleaned up.
But first, Phase 2 must begin. This will involve drilling new holes to see if the old storage tanks are leaking or if there are any spills
“We can stop foreclosure if there is leakage,” Davis said.
But if there is no money available, Commissioner Lewis Hilkert said he would not support taking any action if the county is expected to pay for it all. He believes Bryan should pay for half of the costl
The city and county will each pay half of $3,500 cost for Phase 1. The county would recover its cost through a sale of the property.
“If nothing is discovered in Phase 2, the property will be easier to sell,” Davis said.
James Pruitt may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com