Beatrice seeks EPA Brownfields funds to clear hazardous Dempster site; council authorizes application
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Summary
The Beatrice City Council authorized an application for nearly $4 million in EPA Brownfields funds to demolish and remove buildings at the Dempster site, while city staff outlined a multi-decade history of contamination, recent asbestos removal and a phased cleanup plan pending grant awards.
The Beatrice City Council voted unanimously to authorize the city to apply for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program funding to begin demolition and removal of buildings at the long-vacant Dempster site.
The authorization, passed as Resolution 7699, accompanies a draft grant application seeking just under $4,000,000 to cover demolition and removal of structures on the eastern portion of the 17‑acre site adjacent to Highway 77. "We are applying for just under $4,000,000 to start cleanup of the Dempster site," said Speaker 5, the staff presenter on the Brownfields application.
Why it matters: the Dempster site has a long industrial history dating to the late 19th century and multiple environmental assessments. Speaker 3 summarized that the city has completed a series of studies (phase 1 and 2 work, asbestos surveys) and recent on‑site work that removed asbestos and cleared accumulated debris. "This is a 17 acre site," Speaker 3 said while outlining acquisitions and cleanup steps the city has completed this year.
What city staff presented: Speaker 3 reviewed property acquisitions and remediation steps stretching from a 2017 Phase I through asbestos removal in 2025. He told council crews and contractor teams had removed significant volumes of material: "Jason's crew street crew removed 12 roll offs and a 142 dump trucks full of stuff," Speaker 3 said, noting that buildings themselves have not yet been demolished.
Timing, scope and limits: staff said a federal award is expected in late April or early May; if the Brownfields grant is approved, demolition of buildings could begin promptly but foundations and floors would remain. Speaker 5 cautioned that Brownfields rules allow only one grant award per parcel, so the city has considered parceling the site to maximize future funding opportunities.
Costs and city contributions: when asked for an overall cleanup estimate, Speaker 5 said the total project could be in the range of $10–12 million. The city has budgeted approximately $100,000 for this year and the next to address items not covered by the grant and to prepare sites for potential demolition.
Next steps: Resolution 7699 authorizes the city to execute "any and all documents necessary" while the federal application is open. The council closed the public hearing on the grant application and approved the resolution 7‑0. If awarded, staff said work on demolition of buildings on the eastern parcels would begin as grant agreements are finalized.
The council also discussed contingency planning if the application is unsuccessful, including limited demolition funded from city budgets. The public hearing and the council discussion made clear the project will proceed in phases and is contingent on federal funding decisions.
