Contractors find rot and suspected asbestos at Ranger Community Center; county pauses demolition

Gordon County officials paused parts of the demolition of the Ranger Community Center after contractors discovered more extensive rot than expected and ceiling materials that may contain asbestos.

County Administrator Jim told commissioners the construction team began removing material and found widespread rot along ledger boards and water intrusion in bathroom areas. He said some areas had been temporarily supported with 4-by-4 lumber and that additional hidden damage has emerged as demolition progressed.

"So what you're looking at there is a pier where the ledger board... you can see where it just rotted away," Jim said. He added that the county will "pause demolition of... we're gonna demolish certain parts of rot out of the building and retain the entire structure" while contractors calculate the cost to repair the newly discovered damage.

Jim said ceiling materials have multiple layers and some ceiling tile appears suspicious for asbestos; additional testing will be performed. "They may be able to tell us just by looking at at it what kind of ceiling tile it is before they test it, but, it doesn't look hopeful," he said. He asked contractors to return an estimate of remediation and repair costs, and said he hopes to have that report for the commission in about two weeks.

No formal vote was taken on additional funds or contract amendments at the meeting; commissioners were informed of the findings and the planned pause in demolition.

The administrator described these issues as typical of older buildings undergoing renovation and said staff would bring cost and testing results back to the commission.