Sherman County approves $35,100 asbestos abatement, authorizes sewer scoping at courthouse

The Sherman County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 25 approved a $35,100 bid for asbestos abatement at the county courthouse and authorized Glassman's to scope the courthouse sewer line to assess possible failures beneath the building.

County commissioners acted after a contractor who identified himself as a Glassman's representative reviewed the plumbing and wall conditions at the courthouse and recommended further interior sewer inspection and asbestos testing. "It's complicated, but it's doable," the contractor said while outlining options for repiping, wall repairs and asbestos sampling.

The contractor told the board that the courthouse's sanitary main may include clay tile or cast-iron sections that have failed in the past and that scoping the interior sewer would show whether work under concrete floors or in the street would be necessary. He said the firm would take additional asbestos wall samples, place them in sealed bags and send them to a laboratory in Wichita for testing.

The contractor gave commissioners a project estimate that he characterized as about $307,000 for extensive plumbing and repairs, and he said the asbestos abatement price was separate. He recommended phasing the work, reusing undamaged fixtures where practical, and setting a contingency for unforeseen conditions. "This project would require a bond according to the state statute. It's over $100,000. You'll have to add 2% of whatever we agreed upon and I have to pay a performance company for the state statute to comply," he said.

Commissioners discussed contingency levels and project risks. The contractor recommended, and commissioners agreed informally, to set a contingency cap of up to 10 percent of the contract value to cover unforeseen field decisions such as buried electrical outlets or additional asbestos removals. He also described an $8,000 allowance in his pricing to re-sheetrock the back walls of up to five bathrooms if the walls must be opened.

Formal action came after the contractor requested authority to proceed with asbestos abatement and sewer scoping. Commissioner (unnamed) moved to "approve the 35,100 for the asbestos removal and to allow Glassman's to scope the sewer under the courthouse," another commissioner seconded, and the motion passed with affirmative votes recorded.

The meeting record shows the board also approved an executive session of 15 minutes on non-elected personnel earlier in the meeting and later adjourned. The contractor said he would return with scope results and that the county clerk would receive copies of motions for the minutes.

Next steps described at the meeting: Glassman's will take two interior asbestos samples and send them to a lab; the firm will perform an interior sewer scope if approved, combine scoping and testing invoices as discussed, and report findings to the commissioners before further work or contract adjustments. Commissioners were told that if asbestos is found in bathroom walls, abatement and associated wall repairs would require additional pricing and possible isolation of work areas during abatement.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve asbestos abatement bid of $35,100 and authorize Glassman's to scope courthouse sewer. Moved by Commissioner (unnamed), seconded by Commissioner (unnamed). Outcome: Passed. Yes: 3; No/Abstain: not specified. - Motion: Enter executive session for 15 minutes for non-elected personnel. Outcome: Passed. Yes: not specified in transcript tally. - Motion: Adjourn. Outcome: Passed.

The commissioners directed staff to provide a copy of the motion for county records and to await the asbestos test and sewer-scope results before authorizing larger phases of work. The contractor said he would provide revised quotes if interior scoping or asbestos findings require removing tile or opening walls.