Blackford County Highway Department Faces $347,000 Underground Storage Tank Replacement

From the Blackford County Commissioner meeting on May 18, 2026

The Blackford County Highway Department must remove and replace its underground storage tanks at a cost of $347,102 — a compliance requirement, not an optional upgrade.

A state grant will cover about half the closure and removal costs, roughly $33,338 of a $66,676 removal bill. The remaining project costs, including the new tank installation, fall to the county. The project must go to the county council for funding approval.

The new tank will be installed in the highway department driveway with concrete protection and automated nightly leak detection. The county is using SourceWell, a government cooperative purchasing program, which eliminates the need for competitive bidding. The bid is valid for only 30 days, requiring quick action from the council.

Commissioner Borgenheimer raised the risk of soil contamination during removal. If contaminated soil is found, remediation costs would be additional — not included in the $347,102 estimate. The highway superintendent said there is no known history of leaks. The current tank insurance lapses in July, and the insurer has not confirmed continued coverage.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County - County Commissioner Meeting - May 18, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.