HARDWICK – Work continues to mitigate the effects of the November oil spill at 9 South Main Street in Hardwick. Rural Edge took on management duties at the property December 1 and has encountered a much bigger problem than might be expected with less than 300 gallons of spilled oil, said RuralEdge Executive Director Patrick Shattuck.
A plan is in place to reopen the ground floor space for the Clip Joint and Nikki the Barber while work and planning continues to make the living areas habitable again. Temporary heat for the salon space, and a new dedicated hot water heater are awaiting an electrician and plumber for installation, said Shattuck. He expects it might be just a few weeks until they can reopen.
Before Christmas, three of the tenants were permanently relocated to other Lamoille Housing Properties in Hardwick, Shattuck said. One tenant is staying with family and hopes to return to the building when it is possible and another tenant passed away, unrelated to the building issues, he said.
Oil was being pumped from a tank on the ground floor up to a furnace on the floor above, where the leak occurred. Several efforts at cleaning have not reduced the air quality to a level acceptable to the state fire marshal, so a major engineering project is underway according to Shattuck. A 16 foot square section of the oil soaked framing, including a structural member, will need to be removed and reengineered to remove the offending odor before the apartments can be occupied again.
Plans are to convert the heating system to propane, which is already available at the property for the dryers, Shattuck said, thus eliminating the possibility of future oil spills.
