(CENTREVILLE) – A company has been hired to do testing for a substance in the ground at two locations in Centreville.

During last week’s St. Joseph County Commission Executive session, County Administrator Teresa Cupp shared that a recent boring and air quality testing done at Covered Bridge Healthcare and at part of the strip mall on Industrial Parkway that runs near St. Joseph County Animal Control found what she called “some levels” of a chemical called Tetrachloroethylene, or PCE. This is a toxic chemical that is mainly used as a dry cleaning agent.

A dry cleaning business operated in that strip mall several decades ago.

Because of the proximity of the Animal Control Building and the County Jail to the tested locations, Cupp says it would be good to have those County properties tested.

Tuesday afternoon during the Commission’s regular meeting, Cupp presented a proposal to have Fishbeck perform environmental testing on the two locations at a cost of $18,700. LINKC.

Commissioner Christina Yunker made a motion to hire Keck, who did the testing at the strip mall and Covered Bridge Health Care, at a cost of $6,500, and explains why. LINKD.

Yunker’s motion was defeated 4-3. Commissioner Ken Malone then made a motion to hire Fishbeck to do the testing, which passed 5-2.

Cupp says the testing could begin in the next couple of days.