Category Archives: News

Record Turn-Out for Earth Day 2018 Activities

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Earth Day 2018 Activities What a fine day we had last Saturday! The IPFW College of Arts and Sciences START program funded a record involvement of IPFW students to grow mini-gardens to give away at our events on Earth Day in Hartford City. Thank you, IPFW! Seven vans of IPFW students associated with Dr. Steiner in Sociology and Dr. LeBlanc in Communications joined us for a full morning of activities. Jabin Burnsworth also brought a carload of AP Science students from Manchester High School. Activities occurred throughout Hartford City.

Downtown Barbecue Compliments of John Oxley

Downtown Barbecue Compliments of John Oxley Saturday was the best turn-out of citizens we have had at any event. The hub of activity was downtown at John Oxley’s barbecue. The food was quite an attraction, but Eric Evans, BCCC President, said that he personally talked with people non-stop throughout the event. Students gathered comment cards from residents and gave away mini-gardens to residents. The group made a great impression! Just look at the smiles.

Blackford Junior High School

IPFW student posters of information about Hartford Iron and Metal at the Junior High SchoolIPFW students had posters of information about Hartford Iron and Metal at the Junior High School. They gave away mini-gardens to visitors, answered questions, and talked about future plans for additional moss testing. Dr. Frank from Hoosier Environmental Council talked with residents about the public health implications of heavy metal exposure. We are grateful to Blackford Junior High School for opening their doors and providing a place for students to present their posters. Thanks as well to Katie at Common Grounds for providing coffee and snacks.

City-Wide Trash Pick Up

City-Wide Trash Pick Up IPFW students joined Hartford City residents in picking up trash to clean up city streets after this long dreary winter. There were almost as many student volunteers as there were volunteers from Hartford City! Everyone worked up an appetite for the lunch provided by John Oxley.

Library Mini-Garden Giveaway

Library Mini-Garden Giveaway The library was celebrating its expansion. Unfortunately, the wind came up and made the area quite chilly. Students stayed and gave away mini-gardens, but everyone was happy to get downtown to join others at John’s to warm-up and eat.

Preparing Trees for Planting

Preparing Trees for Planting Jabin Burnworth’s students from Manchester High School prepared trees for planting in recognition of Earth Day. They took the tree bundle to the park, separated trees, and bagged them to be given away at various locations for planting.Thank you, Jabin!

Mini-Garden Giveaway in Fort Wayne!

Mini-Garden Giveaway in Fort Wayne! When we collaborated with IPFW to grow mini-gardens in the IPFW greenhouse, we also collaborated with organizations in Fort Wayne. This week, more than 100 mini-gardens were given to students and food insecure residents in Fort Wayne. Faculty translated plant care instructions into Spanish, Burmese, Arabic, French and Japanese.

Community Harvest was delighted to receive the mini-gardens Community Harvest was delighted to receive the mini-gardens. This project built a lot of good will between students, the university, residents of Fort Wayne, and Blackford County Concerned Citizens.

Purdue Fort Wayne Funds Moss Testing!

Dr. Sherrie Steiner in the Anthropology and Sociology Department and Dr. Jordan Marshall from Biology applied for a research grant to conduct another round of moss testing. If you live near Hartford Iron and Metal and are interested in hosting a moss station on your property, please contact Dr. Steiner at steiners[at]pfw[dot]edu. They are looking to identify nine locations by the end of June. Thank you!

Come to the Junior High School Saturday April 21st

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giving away free growing vegetables Blackford County Concerned Citizens is giving away free growing vegetables and distributing information about relocating Hartford Iron and Metal. Dr. Indra Frank will be present to answer any questions about health risks associated with pollution. IPFW students will be presenting information about air and groundwater conditions.

 

Saturday, April 21st from 10 am – 12 pm
Blackford Junior High School
700 West Conger Street
Hartford City, IN 47938

IPFW vans will also be downtown distributing vegetables and IPFW students are helping pick up trash in the community neighborhoods.

Note: The location was recently changed from City Hall to the Junior High School.

Please continue paying attention to this important issue. Thank you for your involvement.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 765-730-4168 or email us at blackfordcoconcernedcitizens[at]gmail[dot]com.

Mayor Hodgin and City Council Respond!

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Hooray for Mayor Hodgin! Hooray for City Council Members!

Local Residents InvolvedIn a packed City Hall on Saturday morning, students from Dr. Sherrie Steiner’s class at IPFW and BCCC board members presented information and evidence from their nearly 3 year-long search and investigation about the high incidence of cancer and neurological disease in Blackford County.

In addition to the concerned residents, students from Taylor University, Manchester University, and North Manchester High School were in attendance.

The presentation focused on the air surrounding and the groundwater underneath Hartford Iron & Metal (HI&M). The presentation urged the government to support relocating HI&M to another location such as the Industrial Park. IPFW students presented drawings showing the possible business benefits to HI&M associated with relocation. The students also created posters explaining evidence of fugitive dust contamination.

November, 18 2017 MeetingEvidence presented showed contamination of the groundwater with heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium, nickel, lead, and arsenic, and that the flow of the groundwater was in the direction of city wells. Evidence from recent testing also showed air around the site was contaminated with similar heavy metals, suggesting that the only solution to protect the health of citizens is relocation.

Comments from citizens expressing their concerns about the situation were read to the attentive Mayor and City Council Members for a half an hour. More than fifty comment cards had been submitted related to what it has been like living near Hartford Iron and Metal, concerns over groundwater contamination and explaining why they want HI&M to relocate.

Upon hearing the presentation and asking several good questions, the Mayor and Council suggested the Mayor appoint a group to further study relocation of the local business. Mayor Hodgin boldly suggested that he would personally ask a representative from Hartford Iron and Metal to participate in the group. “That’s my job,” Hodgin said to the audience!

President Evans Ending On A Positive NoteIn closing, BCCC President, Eric Evans, encouraged all to focus on the solution to this community issue with cooperation as their guiding thought.

Please continue paying attention to this important issue. Thank you for your involvement!

 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 765-730-4168 or email us at blackfordcoconcernedcitizens[at]gmail[dot]com.

You can still:

From The Presentation

Relocation Logistics New Location Urban Farming
Relocation Site Logistics Relocation Site Logistics Urban Farming

Proposed Urban Farm Layout

Resources

Government Officials Contact Information
Summary Of The Situation
Test Results From April 2017

Relocate Hartford Iron And Metal. Good For Business. Good For Health.

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Residents of Hartford City,

We are collecting signatures and comments from the community to present to city officials in the meeting on Saturday, November 18th, 10 am at City Hall, 700 N. Walnut St., Hartford City, IN.

The <a href="http://www.in.gov/idem/">Indiana Department of Environmental Management</a> has allowed Hartford Iron and Metal to continue business and to expand operations for eleven years after being originally cited for violations even though they are still not in compliance with the Court Order Decree of 2009. You are also invited to the meeting on November 18th.

Have your voice heard! Please complete the comment card if you would like to ask city officials to enforce the law, and work with Hartford Iron and Metal to relocate to the Industrial Park.

Also, please forward the comment card to friends and family.

Hartford Iron and Metal currently operates in a residential neighborhood. Contaminated fugitive dust is descending on residents in the neighborhood where children play. This is against the law and needs to be addressed.

 

 

These are the results from tests conducted in April of this year.

Dust In The Wind Metals In Moss Health Implications
Dust In The Wind Metals In Moss Health Implications Of Heavy Metal Exposure

Map of the locations moss samples were taken.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 765-730-4168 or email us at blackfordcoconcernedcitizens[at]gmail[dot]com.

Help! This Is A Critical Time For Your Voice!

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Fugitive Dust - Dust that moves over Hartford Iron's property line is a violation of state rules (326 IAC 6-4 and 6-5) On Saturday, October 21st, a meeting took place at City Hall. Very few residents attended the informative presentation by IPFW students.

The Mayor and Council Persons witnessed the low turnout causing them to believe no one cares about Hartford Iron and Metal. Blackford County Concerned Citizens is working to persuade government officials to act concerning the problems at Hartford Iron and Metal, but it is nearly impossible without support of the community.

We realize it was Fall break week and a nice day, so we have created an electronic opportunity for you to respond. This is your opportunity to ask city government to relocate Hartford Iron and Metal to the Industrial Park.

Spread the news far and wide! Here is what you can do:

We Need You! The Time To Act Is Now! Don’t Be Ignored!

 

Contact the officials on the list below and request that they attend the meeting on Saturday, November 18th:

     
Hartford City Mayor’s Office
Mayor Ben Hodgin mayorhodgin@hartfordcity.net (765)348-0412
Arlene West, Administrative Assistant aswest@hartfordcity.net (765)348-0412
     
Hartford City Mayor’s Office
Mayor Ben Hodgin mayorhodgin@hartfordcity.net (765)348-0412
Arlene West, Administrative Assistant aswest@hartfordcity.net (765)348-0412
     
Hartford City Council
Dennis Nottingham, District 1 dwnottingham@sbcglobal.net (765)348-5215
Dustin George, District II dustinmgeorge@gmail.com (765)331-9232
Jimmy Lytle, District III jrlytle@mmm.com (765)730-0655
William Hess, District IV bhess8@comcast.net (765)348-0549
Garry Monroe, At-Large gmdoordr@yahoo.com (765)348-6076
     
Police
Scott D. Mealy, Chief hcpdsmealy@hartfordcity.net (765)348-4819
     
Board Of Public Works And Safety
G. Andrew Glentzer aglentzer@gmail.com (765)348-5400
Cindy Gross cgross125@gmail.com (765)348-4794
     
Hartford City Water Works
Ronald Thomas, Superintendent hartfordcitywater@yahoo.com (765)348-2230
     
Waste Water Treatment
Gregg Jones gjones@hartfordcity.net (765)348-3855
     
Blackford County Economic Development
Colton Bickel, Exec. Dir. colton@blackfordindiana.com (765)348-4944
     
Blackford County Health Department
John Lancaster, President jlancaster@blackfordcounty.com (765)348-1620
Donald Hunsberger, Chairman, BC Board of Health (765)348-4317 and (765)348-0300
     
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Donald Snemis, General Counsel & Deputy Chief of Staff dsnemis@idem.in.gov
Paul Higginbotham, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (Water) phigginb@idem.in.gov
Nancy Johnston njohnsto@idem.in.gov
Office of Air Quality, Compliance & Enforcement Branch (317)233-6865
David Zier, BC Air Compliance Inspector dzier@idem.in.gov (317)233-1136
     
Environmental Protection Agency
Rafael Gonzalez Gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov (312)886-0269

Hartford Iron and Metal

Summary Of The Situation

Since 2006, Hartford Iron and Metal in Hartford City, Indiana, has been in violation for improper methods for containing harmful chemicals, including PCBs, from their industrial work.

In 2009 the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Hartford Iron and Metal agreed, in a Court Approved Consent Decree, to clean their site.

In 2011, and again in 2015, IDEM completed another inspection and found Hartford Iron and Metal was still in violation. Some methods of cleanup did occur, but none of them were substantial enough to actually make a difference.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has allowed Hartford Iron and Metal to continue business and to expand operations for eleven years after being originally cited for violations even though they are still not in compliance with the Court Order Decree of 2009.

It is time for real change for the citizens of Hartford City. Come join that change on November 18th at 10 a.m. The meeting will be located at City Hall, 700 N. Walnut St., Hartford City, IN.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 765-730-4168 or email us at blackfordcoconcernedcitizens[at]gmail[dot]com.

IDEM Continues to Drop the Ball in Hartford City

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The <a href="http://www.in.gov/idem/">Indiana Department of Environmental Management</a> has allowed Hartford Iron and Metal to continue business and to expand operations for eleven years after being originally cited for violations even though they are still not in compliance with the Court Order Decree of 2009. Since 2006, Hartford Iron and Metal in Hartford City, Indiana, has been in violation for improper methods for containing harmful chemicals, including PCBs, from their industrial work.

In 2009 the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Hartford Iron and Metal agreed, in a Court Approved Consent Decree, to clean their site.

In 2011, and again in 2015, IDEM completed another inspection and found Hartford Iron and Metal was still in violation. Some methods of cleanup did occur, but none of them were substantial enough to actually make a difference.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has allowed Hartford Iron and Metal to continue business and to expand operations for eleven years after being originally cited for violations even though they are still not in compliance with the Court Order Decree of 2009.

It is time for real change for the citizens of Hartford City. Come join that change on October 21st and November 18th at 10 a.m. The meetings are located at City Hall, 700 N. Walnut St., Hartford City, IN.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 765-730-4168 or email us at blackfordcoconcernedcitizens[at]gmail[dot]com.

Update on Hartford Iron and Metal

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Dear Neighbors,

On Earth Day (April 22), students from IPFW from Dr. Steiner’s class, along with 10 students from Jabin Burnworth’s North Manchester High School class, gathered moss samples from selected trees surrounding Hartford Iron and Metal. Zachary Elick wrote a nice article about the event in the IPFW Communicator. Moss samples were collected and tested by a Certified Lab in Oregon experienced in testing moss samples. The sample testing results and analysis showed that there is a meaningful difference between the levels at the control site and the sites taken from the neighborhood surrounding Hartford Iron and Metal. Moss was tested for arsenic, lead, chromium, cadmium and nickel. Fifteen people indicated interest in forming a neighborhood association. Next Fall, students from IPFW want to work with the neighborhood association to put together an action plan to present to county officials later in the Fall. If you are interested in joining this group, send us an email and we will put you in contact with them.

Feel free to email us at blackfordcoconcernedcitizens[at]gmail[dot]com.

On Earth Day (April 22), students from IPFW from Dr. Steiner’s class, along with 10 students from Jabin Burnworth’s North Manchester High School class, gathered moss samples from selected trees surrounding Hartford Iron and Metal.

Update on Hartford Iron Cleanup

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Eighteen Blackford County citizens attended a public information meeting November 7 at City Hall in Hartford City hosted by Blackford County Concerned Citizens. Indra Frank, Environmental Health Director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, gave a synopsis of the public record on Hartford Iron’s cleanup including what contaminants have been found there and what cleanup has occurred, so far. Kristen Belcredi, Senior Vice President of Engineering Services with Keramida, answered questions on Keramida’s plans to install a permanent storm water treatment system.  The system will include a retention pond at the Chestnut Street property owned by Hartford Iron. The storm water from Hartford Iron will be collected there and then treated to remove contaminants before it is released into the storm sewer. Ms. Belcredi reported that there will be a fence around the pond. In answer to questions about mosquito control, she said that the water will be circulating which discourages mosquito breeding and they will use control measures, if needed.  There ismore information on the cleanup here.

If you see or hear explosions at Hartford Iron or see dust and soil from Hartford Iron spreading beyond their property line, please call the Complaint Coordinator for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management at (800) 451-6027 ext. 24464 or file a complaint electronically here.