Resident raises health concerns about paperboard demolition pile; council approves change order for remediation

Middletown — A resident told the Middletown City Council on May 20 that a four‑to‑five‑story pile of demolition debris from the former paperboard factory on Verity Parkway is an eyesore and a potential health hazard, and urged the city to commission and publicly disclose an environmental assessment and a timeline for removal.

"We deserve to know what we are being exposed to, and we deserve to be protected," Martha Gaston said, identifying herself as a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who lives at 913 Sixth Avenue.

The council heard a response from Tom Minery of Burgess & Neiple, the city’s environmental contractor, who said asbestos removal occurred before demolition and that the crushed gravel on site was tested "in accordance with Ohio EPA standards". Minery said about 10–12 samples were taken and that the material meets standards for reuse on commercial or industrial projects, and could be repurposed for sewer or waterline backfill.

Minery said the next phase is preparing plans and specifications for soil remediation where subsurface material does not meet standards, and that remediation work will be bid once plans are complete. He told the council that decisions about whether to sell or reuse the material are up to the city and its public works department.

Council members and staff indicated they would follow up with the city manager and public works. Councilmember West said the city would look into quicker action, and City Manager Ashley Combs said staff would reach out to neighbors about timelines.

The council later approved an emergency change order to Burgess & Neiple to act as the voluntary action program (VAP) manager for the paperboard demolition project. City staff described an original March 2023 contract amount of $442,500 and said additional work related to unexpected fuel conditions required extra work. The additional contract amount approved was $233,800, and staff said the city expects $1,500,000 in site funding from the Ohio Department of Development that should cover remediation costs.

City staff told council there are $79,779.67 remaining in county ARPA funds that may be redirected to the paperboard project, with the balance of $154,020.33 to be paid from the property development fund and refunded when grant proceeds are received.

The change order measure was presented as an emergency so work would not be delayed; the roll call for that item recorded affirmative votes and the legislation passed.

Neighbors had raised dust and allergy concerns in public comment, and council members said they would coordinate with public works on grading, seeding and other site‑stabilization steps while the remediation plan and bidding move forward.

No new sampling or testing beyond what Minery described was ordered during the meeting, and council did not adopt a separate motion to commission an independent study during the public session.