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COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN CITY OF SHELBY Overview: The purpose of the Community Relations Plan (CRP) is to describe the City of Shelby strategy to address the needs and concerns of Shelby residents potentially affected by the proposed removal of environmental contamination present at the former Shelby Middle School herein referred to as Historic Shelby High located at 133 6th Ave. So. The CRP outlines how the City has involved, and will continue to involve affected residents, City officials and local organizations in the decision-making process regarding the environmental cleanup at the site. Active residents involved in neighborhood issues are essential resources for the success of the CRP because they have a comprehensive understanding of the Shelby area and they hold positions of responsibility in the community. The City perceives these citizens as key points of contact and communication with the Historic Shelby High neighborhood. The success of the environmental cleanup and subsequent redevelopment of Historic Shelby High property hinges on informed citizen involvement in each step of the cleanup process. Spokesperson and Location of Administrative Record: The project spokesperson for this project is Larry J.
Bonderud, Mayor of Shelby, who may be contacted at: An administrative record for the project is also located at the City offices at the above address. City offices are open during the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. A copy machine is available for public use during these hours. All public meetings will be held at the City offices. Site Description and History: Site Location: Historic Shelby High is located at 133 6th Ave. So. The 1931 structure occupies 30,172 sq. feet and is topically flat. The Site is bounded by 7th Ave. on the west; 6th Ave. on the east; Main Street on the north; and 1st St. on the south. Residential properties are located on the east, west and south sides of the building. The City of Shelby purchased the property to renovate and revitalize the building for a multi-faceted community facility. The cleanup activities of this site will be undertaken using city funds and an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Site History: The building was constructed in 1931 as Shelby’s High School. The building served in this capacity until 1962 when a new high school was constructed. The facility then served as a middle school until 2003 when a new K-6 elementary school was built. The building has structurally remained the same, with abatements required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) completed. Nature of Threat to Public Health and Environment: The site is contaminated with friable and non-friable asbestos hazardous substances and lead-based paints. The original assessment of the site as directed by the Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act was completed in October of 1988. Under the school district’s maintenance plan, re-inspection of the building took place every 3 years. School District #14 did do several abatement projects within that time period. The City of Shelby contracted with Maxim Technologies and completed a Phase 1 Site Assessment in the fall of this year. To this point, no response action has taken place at the site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The City of Shelby was recently awarded an EPA Brownfield’s Cleanup Grant for the Middle School site. Earthworks, Inc. of Bismarck, ND received the contract as consultant engineer on the project. Asbestos reports suggest contaminated materials are found in floor tiles and mastic, roof and wall patching materials, a fire door and chalkboards. Asbestos-containing thermal system insulation appeared to have been removed from the property. Thermal system insulation on and around the boiler system and into the visible extents of the crawl spaces appeared to consist solely of fiberglass insulation. Asbestos is of concern because asbestos minerals have a tendency to separate into microscopic-size particles that can remain in the air and are easily inhaled. Persons occupationally exposed to asbestos have developed several types of life-threatening diseases, including lung cancer. Although the use of asbestos and asbestos products has dramatically decreased, they are still found in many residential and commercial settings and continue to pose a health risk to workers and others. Lead-based paints were identified on doors, windows and trim with the school. Additionally, a large quantity of LBP was identified on the lower wall areas. The lead-based paint will need to be abated and disposed of separate from the general waste stream according to the site assessment. The lead-based paint is of concern both as a source of direct exposure through ingestion of paint chips and as a contributor to lead in interior dust and exterior soil. Lead may be liberated from the substrate during renovation activities and may become a respiratory hazard to renovation workers and the public proximate to the renovation site. Residual lead in dust and soil may subsequently become a respiration and ingestion hazard to employees. The assessment recommends performing a Negative Exposure Assessment (NEA) as part of renovation or demolition activities. A Negative Exposure Assessment is a demonstration that exposure to lead-based paint is below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). Community Background: Community Profile: Historic Shelby High is located in a residential/ business district of the City of Shelby. The housing stock is made up of predominately single-dwelling family units built prior to 1960 and the predominant land use of the area is residential. The City of Shelby has a current population of 3,304. The current LMI income percentage for the community is 39.2%. Residents in the school area fall in the moderate income level. The City of Shelby is committed to renovating and revitalizing the abandoned school building. Citizens were ensured during the bid for construction of a new K-6 elementary school that the former high school/ middle school would be revitalized and greenspaces and play area maintained for the benefit of the community. It is with this in mind that the city partnered with School District #14 to purchase this 1931 structure. The building served as Shelby’s high school until 1962 when a new school was constructed on the north side of Shelby. The facility then served as a middle school until 2003. The 30,172 square foot building is a sound structure, with some limited use in adult exercise classes, high school extra curricular sports practices, and GED & vocational education classes offered. The City of Shelby was very fortunate to receive EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant funding for the remediation and removal of hazardous substances in the building. At the same time, he City is seeking funding from numerous private foundations and government sources to renovate the site into a multi-faceted community center housing the Boys & Girls Club of Toole County, Head Start Program, adult education, alternative education and satellite learning center and Toole County Community Theatre. Chronology of Community Involvement: The City of Shelby has been working for several years on this revitalization project. City officials have been working closely with School District #14 since the district abandoned the building in 2003. The City of Shelby received deed on the property in 2005 after the Brownfields Cleanup Grant award was received. The city has been diligent in notifying the community of the Cleanup Grant and the potential use of the property. The city held five public meetings, including two public hearings, one School District #14 trustee meeting, one Shelby Merchant Association meeting and one Shelby Area Chamber of Commerce meeting to inform the community of this proposal and provide them with copies of the proposal for their review. These public meetings have been advertised through the Shelby Promoter, our local weekly paper, KSEN Radio and Mayor Bonderud’s weekly radio program. This process has been ongoing as the city is also applying for numerous public and private sector grants to complete renovation on the building. Three public hearings have been held in regard to renovating the site for the Boys and Girls Club of Toole, Head Start Program and adult education/satellite learning center and alternative education classrooms. Key Community Concerns: From the ongoing Community Relations efforts, it has been learned that local residents are in great support of the project and see the tremendous need for the intended uses of the site. Citizens are pleased the historic building will be renovated and an innovative multi-faceted community center created. Some citizens did question the school district’s decision to abandon the building, but understood the potential funding sources available to municipalities for projects such as these and appreciated the city’s efforts to step in and revitalize the building for the community. The Shelby City Council, Toole County Commissioners, School District #14, Opportunities Inc., Boys & Girls Club of Toole County, Toole County Community Theatre and general public will be kept informed about the progress of the project through local media outlets, the city’s newsletter and direct correspondence. Continued Community Involvement: A legal notice will be placed in the Shelby Promoter newspaper and announcements made on KSEN Radio, in the City of Shelby quarterly newsletter and informational flyers placed strategically announcing the time frame for remediation work on the site, notify residents of a public meeting explaining the process and Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA), time frame for completion and further discussion of the renovation including public comments and concerns. In conformance with Brownfields requirements, the newspaper notice will also announce the administrative record on this project, including the environmental assessments, risk assessments, clean-up standard and other environmental information located at the Shelby City Hall offices and available for viewing during normal business hours. The notice will also announce the start of a thirty-day comment period on the draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA). The City of Shelby will accept comments on the ABCA during the comment period and will provide written responses which will become part of administrative record. The administrative record will be updated with the inclusion of all meeting minutes, status reports and other communications. An information fact sheet will also be made available to the general public in regard to the project. |
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