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Ranger Community Center work paused after contractors find rotted framing and suspect asbestos; county to seek cost estimates
Summary
Gordon County paused demolition and repair work at the Ranger Community Center after contractors discovered more extensive rot than expected and suspect ceiling tiles that may contain asbestos; county staff asked for a cost estimate and testing results within about two weeks.
Gordon County commissioners were told contractors found significantly more structural rot and potentially asbestos‑containing ceiling materials while beginning work at the Ranger Community Center, and county staff paused demolition to get repair estimates and test results.
County Administrator Jim Ledbetter said crews "found a bunch of concerning stuff" after removing finish materials. He described rot in ledger boards and other framing elements and said water intrusion in bathroom areas was worse than inspectors expected. "They're just taking one — we'll take them one at a time," Ledbetter said as he described the contractor's findings.
Ledbetter said the county will retain the overall structure where feasible but stop further demolition while the contractor prepares updated cost estimates for the additional repairs. He asked for that report "hopefully, as soon as in two weeks" to determine next steps.
County staff also discovered additional layers of ceiling material that require asbestos testing. "There were more layers to the ceiling material than was tested, and there's some — ceiling tile in there that we're gonna have to have, tested now for asbestos," Ledbetter said, calling the material "really suspect."
Ledbetter said the county had completed hazardous‑materials studies earlier but that the newly exposed layers were not included in prior sampling. He cautioned that older public buildings can reveal unanticipated repairs once work begins.
At the same time, Ledbetter updated commissioners on other facilities work: heating problems in the Government Plaza were traced to improperly sized PIUs installed previously; the units were replaced with the correct models "at no cost to Gordon County," he said.
No binding decision to demolish or abandon the Ranger Community Center was recorded at the meeting; the board received the update and asked staff to return with the contractor's cost estimate and testing results.
