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Demolition begins at Cheney School site for East Side Rec Center; abatement, endangered-species precautions and brick salvaging planned
Summary
County officials reported completion of hazardous-material abatement and the start of demolition at the former Cheney Elementary site for the East Side Recreation Center project; work included extra precautions for an endangered rattlesnake species and plans to salvage bricks and preserve school history.
County Administrator Greg Dill and project manager Jason (last name not given) updated the board on progress at the East Side Recreation Center site, the former Cheney Elementary School. Project work included utility disconnection, soil-erosion control measures, removal of outbuildings and playground equipment, hazardous-material reclamation (batteries, refrigerants, fluorescent lighting and other regulated wastes), multi-stage asbestos abatement and demolition.
Project staff reported that abatement work uncovered additional asbestos that required follow-up testing and additional abatement; that work was completed before the demolition started. Demolition began on a day of extremely cold weather with initial work focused on the student canopy and the west end of the building; crews were in classrooms on the northwest corner of the facility as demolition continued.
Project staff said they will remove foundations and footings, backfill, restore topsoil and seed the site; the plan is to complete this phase of work and site restoration in early spring, with planting/seed work and driveway removal anticipated in April if weather permits. Jason told commissioners bricks from the school will be salvaged and made available; he invited commissioners and members of the public to contact project staff about obtaining commemorative bricks.
Administrator Dill said the county took extra precautions for wildlife. He and Jason said the crew accounted for the presence of threatened or endangered species at the site, including the massasauga (Eastern Massasauga) rattlesnake and certain bat species, and that the project team will follow species-protection measures, including special care with lighting and site disturbance during construction and demolition activities.
Commissioners thanked staff, discussed ways to preserve Cheney School’s history in the redevelopment, and asked about commemorative options such as a walkway or memorial bricks. Dill also thanked state and federal partners and local legislators who helped secure funding for the rec center project.
