Keokuk moves to speed Brownfields cleanup, approves contract for grant administration

Keokuk City Council on Dec. 19 approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter a contract with the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission to provide grant-administration services for EPA Brownfields cleanup grants aimed at a long-vacant former foundry and adjacent parcels.

City staff told the council the site contains heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), asbestos and coal-related contaminants from historic foundry operations. The presenter said the northern portion of the site — previously used for petroleum coke storage and light office/warehouse use — received a $2 million EPA cleanup award, while roughly $4.485 million is targeted to the central historic operations area. A separate $2 million application was submitted for the southern area.

"These sites are hard to come by these days that have rail access and are available for redevelopment," a city staff member said, arguing that cleanup is necessary to attract industry and increase jobs and tax base. Sam Avery, regional planner at the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, described SERY's role in preparing grant applications, coordinating with the qualified environmental professional, managing bidding and compliance, and leading community outreach and reporting.

"Our motto is 'strengthening Southeast Iowa,' and one of the primary ways we do that is by writing and administering grants," Avery said, explaining SERY had assisted the city in subdividing Plat One to maximize grant funding and that cleanup activities are expected to be complete around late 2025.

Officials explained that enrollment in Iowa's voluntary land recycling program (LRP) is required by the EPA grants; the LRP requires additional sampling, documentation and DNR review but provides a pathway to a 'no further action' determination that assures the public the site is safe for the intended industrial or commercial uses.

Council members and staff discussed options for using a newly announced EPA subgrant (referred to in the meeting as a regional/national subgrant) that offers up to $750,000 per project. Possible uses mentioned included woodland stewardship and invasive species removal, additional contamination removal for central plats, road infrastructure and street lighting (staff noted approximately $350,000 of a $750,000 award could be used for development preparation), demolition and site prep for the large southern building, or prepping the former landfill for a ballasted solar field.

The council approved the resolution to contract with SERY after an amendment correcting an internal dollar amount in the resolution (the text was changed from $16,900 to $160,900). Mayor and council approved the motion by voice vote.

Next steps listed by staff included final plat approval for Area Three, selecting a contractor, issuing bid packages and beginning field cleanup this spring with work continuing through the fall and winter. Staff asked the council whether it wished to pursue the EPA subgrant applications before the end-of-January deadlines.

The city and SERY emphasized that cleanup decisions will be driven by grant funding limits and regulatory requirements; staff said some buildings may be left standing if demolition would exceed available funds, while soil remediation and site preparation would be prioritized to make parcels marketable.

The council action: the resolution authorizing the mayor to enter a contract with the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission for EPA Brownfields grant administration was approved as amended; the contract amount in the resolution was corrected to read $160,900 and the grant will pay for the services.

A follow-up procurement schedule and public meetings to review cleanup work plans were promised by staff.