Toxins delay opening of disaster training center

University will rent former cement plant until million dollar cleanup is finished.

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By Christopher Magan, Staff Writer Updated 9:14 AM Monday, March 1, 2010

FAIRBORN — The environmental uncertainty of the former cement plant where Wright State University medical staffers want to build a disaster response training ground has forced university officials to rent the land until it is given a clean bill of health.

That could take years and has some Fairborn city council members worried the city has increased liability and will lengthen its involvement in the project.

“Kudos to Wright State for protecting their interest,” said Councilman Frank Cervone. “The city isn’t protecting its interest.”

The city took possession of the 54-acre former Cemex property, and the environmental liability that goes with it, in June 2009 after it won $3 million in grants to clean it up. When the environmental remediation is done, Fairborn will donate the land for the university’s National Center for Medical Readiness-Technical Laboratory. Also called Calamityville, the disaster response training ground is expected to pump $75 million annually into the local economy.

Environmental investigations found asbestos and trichloroethene, an organic industrial solvent, on the property and cleanup has been estimated anywhere from  $1 million to $4.5 million.

Glenn Hamilton, the university medical professor creating the center, said the university is “risk adverse” but has a continued interest in taking over the abandoned cement plant once the environmental cleanup is complete. “It’s the standard approach to an unknown property,” Hamilton said. “Like so many other things, it’s all in the timing.”

University and city officials signed a five-year lease in February that includes an option to take possession of the property but no definitive timeline.

Debbie McDonnell, Fairborn city manager, said she doesn’t doubt the university’s commitment to the project despite ongoing negotiations for a lease and development agreements that are at least six months overdue.

“I don’t think they’re going to spend $6 to $8 million on property they’re going to leave in a couple years,” McDonnell said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2342 or

cmagan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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