The Westchester Public Library Board has agreed to make a final determination early next year whether to green light an approximately $30,000 community-garden project at Hageman Library in Porter.

Environmental consultant Jim Thompson reported Thursday that new soil borings taken on the Hageman property show the detectable levels of arsenic found are basically representative of background soils anywhere in Northwest Indiana as a result of airborne residue from industrial operations here.

Thompson said while typically 10 soil samples are taken, he believes the four he did between 3 and 4 feet deep were all that was needed to determine the arsenic is naturally occuring.

The latest soil borings were authorized by the Library Board because two initial samples taken northeast of the library building showed arsenic present.

WPL is considering having fruit trees, vegetable gardens, a planted arbor, a pavilion and a shallow water feature developed north of the library; that area once served as a parking lot for the former Hageman School, and was the site of a house and garage used before 1935 by an amateur inventor.

Library Board member Michele Corazzo noted the area where the actual gardens would be located wasn’t tested. Thompson said any site-specific contamination would have been located where he tested by the inventor’s long-demolished garage workshop.

Thompson did recommend that WPL remove the existing soil, probably to a depth of about 2 feet, and bring in clean top soil for the garden areas. Board president Claire Jolie said raised beds also might be used.

Asked board member Rick Hokanson, “So we remove the soil, bring in new, a kid eats what’s grown there, he’d be safe?” Replied Thompson, “I’d say he’s pretty safe.”

He also said no special permits from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management would be needed to develop the garden. Baugher said he’d recommend a landscape architect be brought in to advise the board if it wants to proceed; there was a question to what degree drainage for the project would be a factor.

Posted 11/11/2011