Fayette County awards demolition bid for derelict jail after engineer warns of asbestos, lead and airborne mold

Fayette County commissioners voted March 19 to award a low bid to Empire Salvage to demolish the county's old jail after an environmental consultant reported widespread structural decay and hazardous materials.

The award followed a presentation of an engineering and environmental report that said the jail's rock facade has separated from the steel cell structure, roof leaks are advanced, asbestos and lead-based paint were present throughout, and airborne mold concentrations measured on the third floor exceeded levels the consultant called "extremely high." The commission also discussed using coal severance funds to pay for demolition rather than a REAP grant.

An environmental engineer with Greenbrier Environmental, Matt Ford, summarized the consultant findings: "We did a structural assessment and asbestos inspection, lead-based paint inspection, a mold inspection, and a radon inspection. Everything was bad except for the radon. So the good news is you build something back there, you don't have a radon issue." Ford said samples on the third floor showed airborne spore counts far above the threshold he described as "extremely high." He offered to attend a public meeting to help interpret the reports.

A commission member who reviewed the engineering report said repairing the jail would likely be cost-prohibitive, estimating repairs in the range of $7 million to $10 million rather than restoration. Commissioners also noted evidence and historical materials currently stored at the site, and discussed coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office and the county museum.

Angela (county staff) reported that she tabulated the demolition bids and identified Empire Salvage as the low bidder; she told the commission the low bid was $82,884.58 and recommended proceeding to public input and coordination with SHPO. The commission member moving the award noted the bid approval would be contingent on the commission's final decision to proceed with demolition and that the contractor had been informed a bid award might not immediately lead to work.

Commissioners agreed a public meeting would be useful because of the building's historic elements and said they would invite the preservation office and other stakeholders for comment. They also discussed where to relocate sheriff's evidence, the circuit clerk's files and museum artifacts now in or near the building.

On a motion and second, the commission approved awarding the low bid to Empire Salvage; commissioners voiced assent and the chair declared the motion passed. Commissioners said demolition funds would come from the county's coal severance account; they discussed but did not finalize using REAP grant money for the county-owned structure.

The commission asked staff to arrange a public meeting with SHPO and to notify interested parties before demolition moves forward. County staff said they would contact the low bidder to confirm the award is tentative pending final approvals and funding.

The commission did not set a demolition start date at the meeting and left open the possibility of further review if a preservation plan or alternate proposal is offered.