Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Courthouse Maintenance Flooring topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board rejects courthouse flooring bids, asks staff to regroup amid asbestos and budget concerns
Summary
Supervisors voted to reject all bids for replacement of courthouse flooring after staff raised cost and asbestos-abatement concerns; the project may be re-scoped or temporarily addressed with alternative coverings while staff evaluates options and departmental impacts.
Sierra County supervisors voted to reject all current bids for the courthouse flooring replacement project after Public Works presented bid tabulations and highlighted a significant cost increase driven largely by the presence of asbestos tile under the existing floor.
Public Works Director Brian Davey said contractors’ quotes were substantially higher than budgeted; abatement would be required for certain new flooring products because they cannot be glued to asbestos tile. Davey noted the county has $25,000 currently budgeted for the project but that full remediation and replacement may be near six figures.
Nut graf: The board directed staff to reject the bids and return with options including (1) a plan to abate and replace asbestos tile, (2) temporary alternative coverings that avoid disturbing encapsulated asbestos, (3) departmental coordination on timing and disruption, and (4) scope reductions to reduce cost; no new funding was approved at this meeting.
Discussion: Supervisors raised concerns about tripping hazards from aged carpeting and questioned whether in-house crews could reduce moving/furniture costs; Public Works said moving and handling were substantial expenses and that abatement triggers larger contract requirements. Staff offered temporary mitigations (re-stretch carpets, localized repairs) as possible stopgaps.
Decision: The board unanimously rejected the bids and asked staff to consult department managers, re-evaluate options (including abatement vs. overlay), and return with a costed set of alternatives for future consideration.
