Council approves pay application for Kemper Park abatement as developer readies senior housing

The City of Booneville council approved pay application No. 6 in the amount of $128,946 to Spectrum Environmental LLC for asbestos and lead abatement work at Barracks A and D at Kemper Park, council members discussed progress on the project, and city staff said redevelopment for senior housing is planned once abatement is complete.

City Administrator Kate, addressing the council, said the contractor and the Department of Natural Resources had been scheduled to perform final wipe samples "this week," and that the project team expects to be "pretty much nearing the end." She told council members, "when we get to the clean letter at that point in time, we'll exchange the property anyway," indicating the city will transfer the cleaned property to the developer when the certificate of clearance is issued.

The item appeared on the consent agenda as a pay application to Spectrum Environmental LLC. A council member moved and another seconded the motion to approve the consent item; the motion was acted on during the meeting packet review. During discussion, council and staff confirmed there have been no change orders to date and that the abatement work covers both buildings, not just a single barracks. A staff speaker advised she had met with the contractor and the contractor understood the timing for completion this fall.

Why it matters: Council members and the housing authority have identified additional housing supply as a pressing need. The Booneville Housing Authority reported that its properties are at full capacity and that two-bedroom and one-bedroom units are in strong demand; members said there are waiting lists. The abatement and property handoff are a necessary step before the developer can proceed with construction of senior housing in the affected buildings.

Supporting details: The council packet listed pay application No. 6 for $128,946 and identified Spectrum Environmental LLC as the abatement contractor. Staff said DNR wipe sampling is a key milestone; the clean letter issued after passing those tests is the point at which the city will transfer the property. Council discussed publicizing the milestone when the clean letter is received so the community is aware of progress.

Next steps: Staff said the project remains on the fall timeline for completion of abatement; when the clean letter is issued the property transfer will return to council for acknowledgement. The project also remains tied to the separate developer-driven schedule for site redevelopment to senior housing.