The City of Bloomington Redevelopment Commission on Aug. 18 approved an agreement not to exceed $152,486.26 with BET for environmental remediation of petroleum-related soil, groundwater and soil-gas contamination found at the corner of Second Street and Rogers Avenue in the Hopewell West area.

Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the spending after staff described how BET identified contamination during an environmental review done under 24 CFR part 58 and worked with Idom to prepare a contamination plan. "BET worked with Idom to reach an approved contamination plan," Anna Kelly Hansen, director of Housing and Neighborhood Development, said, and the city negotiated the BET agreement to avoid the delay and extra cost of bringing a new contractor up to speed.

The contamination was not apparent in earlier site phase I and phase II reports, staff said. Commissioners and staff discussed historical uses at the site, including a bulk plant, gas stations and a dry cleaner, and noted the property had been acquired by the RDC on an "as-is" basis during the Hopewell purchase.

Staff described the excavation and soil-management strategy that could reduce disposal costs by reusing tested fill from nearby Jackson Street work. "Part of this... is happening at the same time the Jackson Street work is going in, so they are able to reuse some of the soil for the fill that's already there, which is what drives down some of this cost," Hansen said. But staff also cautioned that reuse depends on testing of excavated soils and on what, if any, restrictive covenants are required after remediation. "We don't know what kind of restrictive covenants will be there because we don't know what's there until we start digging," Hansen said.

Commissioners asked whether the $152,486.26 figure included excavation and removal; staff confirmed the scope anticipates excavation and potential removal and disposal depending on test results. Staff said the contractor aims to complete the work this year but noted regulatory closure timelines depend on the reviewing agency; completion of excavation by the end of the year does not guarantee closure from the regulator.

There was no public comment. The commission voted by roll call: C. Scambelluri, Randy Cassidy, John West, Laurie (Gloria) McRobbie and Deborah Meyerson all voted yes and the motion passed unanimously.

The remediation agreement was presented as a single action item under Resolution 25-102; staff said BET's continuity and prior work on the project were reasons to contract with that firm rather than bring a new contractor into the project.