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Shenandoah approves emergency payment after 50–100 gallon diesel spill at lift station
Summary
A diesel transfer nozzle slipped at a lift station, spilling an estimated 50–100 gallons; Hazmat mitigators were called, the city received a $20,000 insurance payment, and the council approved a non‑budget emergency expenditure while FEMA/other reimbursements are pursued.
City public works staff told the Shenandoah City Council that a diesel‑transfer nozzle slipped while refueling a generator at a lift station on July 11, spilling an estimated 50–100 gallons and sending fuel toward a storm drain.
Joseph, a public works staffer, told the council the spill was reported immediately and Hazmat International was contacted to mitigate, isolate and capture the diesel. Staff notified state and federal agencies and township partners and began containment and cleanup.
City administrators said the city’s insurance covered up to $20,000 and the city already received that payment; staff will pursue FEMA or other reimbursements but sought council approval to pay the cleanup vendor now to avoid late payments. Joseph described the cause as human error: "the pump tank has your typical, nozzle that you'd see at the gas station, and that slipped out of the the tank and was dumping onto the ground and then down into a storm drain."
Council approved the non‑budget emergency expenditure by voice vote. City staff reported disciplinary action for the policy violation and said the city will review procedures to reduce the chance of recurrence. Staff will update council when additional reimbursements are confirmed.
What’s next: staff will process vendor payment, continue to pursue FEMA and any other reimbursement, and report back on follow-up steps to strengthen fueling procedures.
