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Board approves Brownfield grant steps and demolition-related contracts for former Valley View Junior High
Summary
The Valley View Board voted to pursue an Ohio Brownfield remediation grant for the former junior high, approved a memorandum of understanding with the county land reutilization corporation, committed to a potential local match, and authorized urgent removal of three underground oil tanks to qualify the site for grant funding.
The Valley View Board of Education on a roll-call vote approved a memorandum of understanding with the Montgomery County Land Reutilization Corporation to pursue an Ohio Brownfield remediation grant for the former Valley View Junior High site and approved related demolition and remediation steps.
Board members authorized the district to proceed with construction documents and an invitation to bid for abatement and demolition at Valley View Primary and approved a resolution to close the former junior high school under the agenda’s referenced statute. District staff said the total project cost would be about $1,380,000 if the land bank is not involved, and asked the board to commit to a local match of $278,235 should a match be required.
Why it matters: The board’s actions clear the way for the district to apply for Brownfield funds intended to pay for remediation and demolition of contaminated school property while preserving options for community reuse. Approving immediate remedial work — notably removal of three underground oil storage tanks — was presented as necessary to keep the grant application on schedule.
District operations director Eric (district staff) told the board that many pre‑grant expenditures — asbestos testing, removal of underground tanks and soil hauling — will count toward the district’s match. "We came back with a total estimated price of $1,380,000," he said, and asked the board to "commit to $278,235 for our portion of the grant match, should we get it." He also said grant documents must be submitted by the 12th and requested signatures to complete the application.
The board also approved a waiver of competitive bidding based on urgent necessity to award a contract to Verndantes LLC for removal of three underground oil storage tanks so the site will qualify for remediation funds. A board member asked whether local records from the fire department or EPA indicated the tanks had been emptied; a member answered that the district still must remove them because of the possibility of residual contamination.
Board members thanked staff — with the Chair noting the substantial work done by Valerie Caldwell and Eric to prepare the application — and asked that minor typographical items in the match-commitment letter (for example, the capitalization of 'Brownfield') be corrected before final paperwork.
Next steps: The district will finalize and submit Brownfield grant materials by the stated deadline and proceed with the bidding process for abatement and demolition; if a grant is awarded, the board’s approved match commitment would fund the district’s portion of costs and pre‑grant expenditures would be credited toward that match.
