PIERCETON - The wheels turn slowly in government when red tape is wrapped around the cogs.

The town council wants to rid the community of a dilapidated building in town. Residents want to see the eyesore disappear. And Jim Townsend wants the cleanup process to begin yesterday.

Townsend has been seeking town officials to take care of the old gas station building for more than a year, and the town has taken steps toward doing so. But remains of the structure - located on the northwest corner of Market and First streets - carries with it a burden after standing vacant for about 40 years.

Underground gas storage tanks were never removed from the site and it is not known whether any leaching has occurred. If the land is contaminated, a major environmental cleanup effort would likely be undertaken.

However, the town is not the owner of the property, and the absentee owner, Jim Perry, who is believed to reside in rural Columbia City, ignores notices sent by the town, officials said. That's why, when a portion of the building collapsed in July, the town was only able to move the rubble back onto the property.

The town or county could own the property since the taxes are delinquent for several years. In fact, the town could acquire the property at no cost. But the cost for possible cleanup could be limitless and the town is taking care how it proceeds.

Indiana Department of Commerce grant money was sought and awarded for soil testing at the site, but the funds have not been received. Bob Murphy of Murphy & Associates, Larwill, who wrote the grant, told the council Monday that the money should be here in about two weeks.

Avant of Fort Wayne has agreed to complete the soil testing and will do so as soon as the funds become available. The $28,000 grant has a local match of $3,200 for the work. Murphy said there are no state or federal regulations regarding a deadline for cleanup of the property, but he would like to see things move a little quicker if the cleanup costs are not astronomical.

"If the cost of cleanup is $200,000 or less, I would suggest that the town apply for a grant in the January round and undertake it," Murphy said. The town would know in March whether it would receive funds and cleanup could start next summer, he said.

If contamination is found and it spreads further than the town has funds to clean it up, then "the town is stuck with an eyesore of no use to anyone," Murphy said.

The cost of cleanup is calculated based on the depth and distance of the contamination.

Townsend is not satisfied, though, despite the town's efforts. He equates cleaning up the property with enforcing the junk car or weed ordinance and said the town should just do it and bill the owner.

"You can't get blood from a turnip," said council president Ron Hall. "I've told you time and time again."

Townsend then stormed out of the meeting after Hall, who admitted losing his temper with Townsend and later apologized to those still present, told him that the subject was closed. [[In-content Ad]]