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School board considers remaining oil spill issues
Details discussed, but not disclosed
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY - The situation has not been publicly disclosed, but during Monday's Highland County School Board meeting, a closed session was called to discuss the oil spill that occurred on school grounds three years ago.
"I don't think it is appropriate to discuss personnel in open session," school superintendent Gary Blair moments before the board went into executive session. "I am requesting a closed session due to some questions I have related to personnel and the oil spill and I have asked Mr. (Jerry) Rexrode (Highland supervisor) to attend that closed session because I am working with the DEQ and still trying to resolve that. I have some unanswered questions and you all are the people that I have to ask.
Rexrode, Blair and the board indicated discuss issues related to the heating oil spill - personnel, possible reimbursement from Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality, and legal issues related to the spill.
"I don't think there will be any lawsuits or anything, but I am trying to get a resolution from the DEQ and have them reconsider the initial ruling and ask them to reimburse us for any money. I wasn't here when it happened and part of it is about individuals. That is why I am asking for a closed session," Blair said.
The spill occurred in April 2004 when 3,000 gallons of heating oil leaked from an 8,000-gallon tank behind the school. Oil leaked out through a broken cast metal valve above ground. The situation resulted in a clean-up, overseen by DEQ, that involved months of cleanup monitoring and the removal of contaminated sludge from the Monterey sewage treatment plant. In fiscal year 2005- 2006, at least $4,799 was used for oil spill cleanup and monitoring.
After the closed session, the board reconvened. Chair Bobbie Hefner said no vote had been taken and nothing was discussed beyond the stated purpose of the meeting.
Hefner said the meeting was continued until 7 p.m. Aug. 15.
County attorney Melissa Dowd confirmed any potential legal issues were not related to a threatened lawsuit discussed in a recent closes session of the board of supervisors.
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