CANTON -- St. Lawrence County legislators will perform environmental investigations of two sites to assess liability prior to taking them over for tax foreclosure.

The former McKeever’s gas station and convenient store on State Highway 68, Lisbon and D.J. Walters, Main Street Gouverneur will be investigated.

McKeevers was previously known as Tru-North Pizza prior to its closure.

The county has acquired "temporary incidence of ownership" status, which permits access the properties.

On Monday the county agreed to hire HRP Associates Inc., for two phases of investigation of the parcels, and preparation of a written report for each parcel describing environmental liabilities to county if it proceeds with tax foreclosure and acquires these parcels.

Legislators say there were been nineteen responses to the (RFP), and the County Attorney, County Treasurer, Director of Governmental Services and Staff, have reviewed these proposals and recommend the awarding of a portion of the contract to HRP Associates, Inc.,

Work will begin at the McKeevers site due to “strategic considerations,” the resolution says. Work will then move to the D.J. Walters site.