Peru paying to see whats under abandoned gas station

A closed gas station that’s become an eyesore in Peru has the city’s attention.

The city is spending over $7,000 to get soil samples from the old Marathon Gas Station property on 4th Street. They think the owner didn’t clean out underground gas tanks there’s state money available to remove the tanks.

Before cleaning up the property, Peru needs to own it. They’ve gone to court trying to get a deed.

Alderman Dave Potthoff says the soil sampling and clean up is important because of houses being close to the station. Last year the state fined the station’s last owner over $500,000.