Restrictions urged on chemical storage near schools

Sarah Hunt, standing, addressed the Shelbyville City Council about concerns over the storage of potentially dangerous chemicals near schools and other facilities. Seated from left are city recorder Betty Lamb, councilman Fred Harrison and mayor Wallace Cartwright. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

In response, the council could use zoning laws to address the issue, Shelbyville's city manager said.

The group, which represents Central High School, Harris Middle School, Bedford County Vocational School, Shelbyville & Bedford County Seniors Citizens Center, Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation Center, the Community Development Center and the Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville, is asking the city for the elimination of any hazardous chemicals that could migrate off the property if there was "a catastrophic leak that could cause serious bodily harm or death."

"We request the potential purchaser of the property inform the city of the type and amount of chemicals used in the company production/process," said Sarah Hunt, spokesperson for the group.

The director of Homeland Security would then contact the state to analyze and provide information about the chemicals, Hunt said. "Information would be provided to the council in order for them to make an informed decision regarding the protection and health of the citizens in this area."

Hunt said that the council was well aware of the history of the aluminum recycling plant, most recently known as Aleris, which ceased operations in June. She pointed out that prior to the plant's closing, 15 tons of chlorine were allowed on the property, but there are no chemicals there now.

Mayor Wallace Cartwright said there are three remaining employees at Aleris and those positions will be terminated on Sept. 30.

Hunt said that as of this month, the population in what she called Shelbyville's "Educational Park Complex" is 2,365 people, including students, staff and ancillary service staff. In the evenings, an additional 221 are at TTCS.

Also, as of the fall of next year, an additional 452 students and staff will be in the area with the opening of the new elementary school. And these figures do not include the residents of Horse Mountain Road, the surrounding area and other businesses and industry, Hunt explained.

City manager Ed Craig said there were two ways of dealing with the issue -- rezone the properties around the schools and other institutions from I-2 to I-1, which would restrict the types of activity allowed. A foundry, which is how the Aleris operation would be referred to in the zoning document, is classified as I-2.

Craig said the other way to deal with it would be to identify the uses that are offensive or dangerous and zone those uses to I-3, which is the most restrictive zone, reserved for industries like automobile wrecking yards, offal processing, asphaltic cement plants or cement or concrete plants and ordinance and accessories manufacturing.

If the Aleris site was rezoned to I-3, re-opening it would be a nonconforming use, Craig said. But according to state law, if the foundry was restarted within a period of 30 months from closure, it could still operate.