Mitchell Violates Environmental Standard

Last updated on Friday, October 23, 2009

(MITCHELL, IN) - The city of Mitchell recently violated an Indiana Department of Environmental Management rule.

According to a press release issued from Mitchell City Hall, "we recently burned some debris. It was thought (at the time), to have been a clean burn. An anonymous caller reported the burn to IDEM."

IDEM then came to the site and did an inspection, in which asbestos was found in the debris.

City officials say that the scene, as well as all of the debris has been removed and cleaned up according to IDEM standards.

**Read IDEM's report on the incident, Click Here.**

Steve Burton, Mitchell City Street and Building Commissioner says the debris came as the result of the city's program to remove dilapidated buildings and houses as part of a beautification project.

Burton says that "the city was basically trying to make things better for Mitchell and in doing so we violated the standard. From this point forward we know what to do differently."

The total cost of the cleanup is not yet known by the city.

Although the violation occurred, Mitchell Mayor Dan Terrell stresses the progress the city has made in it's other projects such as the new industrial park and the new boulevard which will connect the industrial park to highway 37.

Crews work to finish a group of support poles which will support a section of the boulevard's bridge.

"No matter what you may read in the local newspaper, there are positive things happening in Mitchell," says Terrell, speaking about the Industrial park and roadway.

Foamcraft Incorporated, a company which is relocating their building to the new industrial park, finished pouring the building's cement floor at the location yesterday.

Workers coat a newly poured cement floor with a sealant in the new Foamcraft Incorporated building.

The city's new boulevard is expected to be complete December 31st.

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