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City awards $148,750 asbestos-abatement contract for Dempster site to McGill
Summary
The Beatrice City Council voted unanimously to award McGill Asbestos Abatement LLC a $148,750 contract to remove asbestos from the Dempster property; roofs, certain window glazing and landfill fees are excluded and demolition will follow clearance by a third‑party inspector.
Beatrice City Council voted 8-0 to award a $148,750 asbestos‑abatement contract for the Dempster site to McGill Asbestos Abatement LLC.
City staff said the bid is the low of seven qualified, state‑certified bidders and that McGill could begin work in late June and expects the removal to take “about 2 to 3 months.”
The work package approved covers asbestos removal across the mapped buildings at the Dempster site but excludes materials that contractors would need to access from roofs. City staff told the council none of the bidders would remove the roof‑layer asbestos because “they can't take that off without taking off the roof” and that roof removal will occur during demolition. Staff also said some window glazing containing asbestos cannot be reached without roof access and therefore is not included in this contract. Landfill disposal fees are likewise not included and will be billed separately at Boswell landfill rates.
City staff described the procurement history: an earlier estimate put full‑site abatement near $500,000, so staff packaged multiple bid options to maximize grant coverage. Seven contractors attended walk‑throughs and submitted bids; McGill’s low bid prompted the award. Staff emphasized a required third‑party inspection and state sign‑off after abatement: “One of the things you have to do anytime you have asbestos removed is you have to have a third party inspector come in and inspect your work and make sure it was done appropriately.”
Council members and staff also described cleanup work already under way by the street department: separating asbestos‑containing material into a dedicated pile, hauling brick and recyclable metal, and staging large metal for later removal. Staff said asbestos at the site is currently encapsulated in tar and, while present, is not airborne until disturbed: “This asbestos is encapsulated in tar. It’s not going anywhere. It’s not getting out into the air.”
Funding for the abatement will come from the city’s general fund as a non‑budgeted item; staff said higher‑than‑expected sales tax and interest income are expected to cover the cost. The council approved the award with no dissent.
The abatement is the required first step before demolition and further redevelopment work on the site.
