SIDNEY — During their regular meeting, Tuesday, Shelby County Commissioners heard a proposal by Sidney resident Larry Grieshop to investigate the possibility of installing a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station on county property at Vandemark and Fair roads.

Grieshop said he has researched the growing use of CNG to power vehicles ranging from automobiles to semis, buses to farm machinery.

“For various reasons, natural gas is going to become part of the future package of transportation fuels. It is starting to happen already, and I would like our city and county to be prepared for that future when it arrives,” he said in a prepared statement that he provided to the commissioners and to the Sidney Daily News.

Grieshop has no financial interest in such a venture. Disabled for the last 30 years, he undertook his research out of interest in climate concerns and technology advances.

His proposal suggests that the commissioners work with Mike Dodds, director of the Sidney Shelby Economic Partership, to “shop the site around to possible interested parties. The site would only be available on a long-term lease,” he wrote. “The leasee would own all of the capital equipment on the site and be responsible for the maintenance and safety of the operation.”

Commissioner Bob Guillozet said the idea is not a new one.

“We’ve been talking about it for three years,” he said. “We went to a seminar in Auglaize County.” He noted that the commissioners had seen several demonstrations and had looked into what it might cost to convert the sheriff’s office vehicles. Guillozet said he had talked with the Sidney mayor about considering police vehicle conversion, too.

“It would cost $1,800 to $2,000 to make the conversion,” Guillozet said. “But the big hold-up is a filling station.” It would cost almost $2 million for the county to install a station for county use only. If a station were established that would also be open to the public, a commercial concern would bear most of the cost, but that might lead to liability issues for the county.

“Right now, that property (at Vandemark and Fair roads) is serving no purpose,” Grieshop said. “I would like you to consider the future of Shelby County, especially with the coming election and the Paris climate agreement.” He reported that, according to Vectren, there is a 6-inch gas line running through the property already. In addition, Grieshop spoke about the need school systems will have to convert their buses and how the agriculture industry will benefit from converting its farming equipment.

Honda operates a station in Troy and Speedway operates one in Findlay. There are several in Dayton. Montomery and Cuyahoga counties have already converted vehicles and installed filling stations.

“They have more staff to work on this,” said Commissioner Julie Ehemann of the larger counties. “We’re still in the idea phase.”

“I think you’re spot on. This is the way we’re going to have to go,” Guillozet said.

Grieshop feels time is of the essence.

“(The commissioners) may be forced to consider this quicker that they anticipated,” he said.