Following a long delay, the installation of Reed City’s new gas station and convenience store has reportedly returned to progress.

According to owner Al Peterson, the process was halted in the gas phase by the state regarding their underground storage tank installation.

“For all ‘UST’ tanks, there is supposed to be a 2000-foot setback or you have to have a variance,” Peterson said. “Well over by Franklin Street, there's a type 1 well and it's the state that handles that water for the city. Since it was less than 2000 feet, (the state) denied the gas.”

After testifying with the head of the Michigan Petroleum Institute and Senate Environmental Committee, Peterson and his team hired an environmental engineer to show there would be no spillage into the roots of the water system. This was good enough to receive the “ok” from the state but then they were forced to wait longer in order to get their financial help back.

Peterson said due to the project’s pause, their funding was briefly “pulled” from the project. This caused a short search for other monetary aid until everything eventually fell into place.  

“We spent a lot of time with Huntington's trying to write in an 'SBA loan'. That was a very, very slow process. Finally, we got the variance probably a month ago and then Lake Osceola (State Bank) came back with the funding.”

So, where is the project now? According to Peterson, the timeline for completion is currently aiming for early next year.

“We have not given up,” Peterson said. “Right now, we're trying to get some mechanical drawings so we can start putting in coolers. The 'UST' tank is scheduled for the end of August and it can take six weeks to build those. It very likely could be (open) next April.”