ELLSWORTH — An energy company planning to tear down a gas station first has to find out whether anyone is buried below the site.

WABI-TV reports the proposal to replace the station with new pumps and a larger store in Ellsworth was brought up by R.H. Foster at a planning board meeting Wednesday.

The property was home to a church and cemetery in the 1800s. The company hired a team to use ground penetrating radar and found no evidence of a burial ground.

But a city councilor says graves are buried up to 15 feet behind the current convenience store.

Planning board officials suggested that the company re-examine the area.

R.H. Foster says officials plan to place a sign on the property noting the historical significance of the site.