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Anderson County court amends Civic Center sale, approves $51,908 asbestos abatement split with buyer
Summary
County commissioners approved an amendment to the Civic Center sale requiring the seller to pay up to half of asbestos-removal costs and authorized a contract with ERI Consulting for the work to be paid from escrow after a clean-air declaration.
Anderson County commissioners on a July workshop approved an amendment to the pending sale of the county Civic Center that requires the seller to pay at least half — up to $51,908 total — of asbestos abatement costs, and separately approved hiring ERI Consulting Inc. to perform and certify that work.
The change, approved unanimously after discussion, also extended the buyer's feasibility period to mid-April 2025 and amended the contract's effective date. ERI's scope includes air-monitoring oversight and abatement; county staff said ERI must be paid in separate line items and that ERI cannot be the on-site contractor for the abatement if state rules create a conflict.
The vote came after the county judge and staff described an environmental survey that identified asbestos-containing tile in the multipurpose room, lobby and some offices. Judge (name not provided) said he obtained a turnkey estimate and that the buyer agreed to split the cost; ERI would hold fees in escrow and disburse after issuing a certificate stating the building is free of asbestos.
Commissioners were shown ERI's cost breakdown in the closing documents. County staff recited the numbers on the record: ERI's air-quality monitoring line at about $39,833, a separate oversight fee of $9,750, and a small state-mandated fee; the total abatement estimate presented to the court was $51,908. County staff said the buyer agreed to pay roughly half and the county's share would be $25,954.
Commissioner Meehan moved to approve the amendment to the sale contract; Commissioner Chapin seconded. The court then separately voted to approve the ERI Consulting Inc. contract for asbestos abatement, with Commissioner Hill moving and Commissioner Wilbanks seconding.
In discussion, the judge said ERI must submit separate invoices or purchase orders for the different parts of the work because state procurement rules prohibit certain conflicts. The judge also told the court that ERI would give 10 days' notice before beginning abatement and that the company expected to start in April, after closing, with a certificate of clearance to follow when the work is finished.
Ending: County staff said the closing statement will show the abatement costs in separate escrow line items and that funds would be disbursed after ERI issues its clean-air certification. The amended sale and the ERI contract allow the sale to proceed with the buyer and county sharing abatement costs rather than the county absorbing the full amount.
