City seeks companies for Tiger Metals cleanup

Published 9:39 am Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Add another piece of Ironton property that could be available for development in the not-too-distant future.

The Ironton Port Authority is soliciting firms with environmental engineering and consulting experience to prepare a remediation action plan for the old Tiger Metals property on Second Street.

The site has been vacant for more than a decade after Tiger Metals closed. Before that, it was the site of the old Gulf Chemical.

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IPA Chairman Paul Woods said the owners, Jim and Kathy Kratzenberg, are partnering with the IPA. The Ohio Department Of Development requires some form of government partnership to access Clean Ohio funds, which the IPA intends to pursue.

Ironton Economic Development Director Bill Dickens said he anticipates the IPA will be compensated in the future for its work.

Woods said the site has some contamination from previous use and while he doubts the contamination is very extensive, “We need to get it (contamination) out of the way before someone gets the property.”

One stipulation for the property to be eligible for Clean Ohio funds is the property cannot be owned by the entity that contaminated it in the first place.

Dickens said this is not an issue because the Kratzenbergs did not own the property at that time; they purchased it five years ago.

Woods said he hopes to open bids from interested environmental firms by Dec. 12.

“It will be a valuable piece of property once it can be developed,” Dickens said. “It’s a nice size, good location.”

Interested parties may obtain an information packet by calling Woods at (740) 237-9211.