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Public comment flags asbestos risk, historic value at Coles Wood School; commissioners ask staff to research options
Summary
A public commenter told Glacier County commissioners Jan. 13 that Coles Wood School has hazardous materials (vermiculite/asbestos) and urged historic nomination and abatement; staff and commissioners agreed to research surveys, potential historic designation, and possible partnerships with the tribe and state/federal environmental agencies.
During the Jan. 13 Glacier County commission meeting in Browning, a public commenter raised environmental and preservation concerns about the Coles Wood School property, saying children had been playing inside and that hazardous materials were present.
“The environmental office is concerned about people swimming down and hanging around that area, the school and Grandview. And there's hazardous materials there,” the commenter said, noting the presence of vermiculite or asbestos in the building and saying the tribe had offered to write a resolution if needed to pursue remediation or protections.
County staff recalled prior efforts eight years earlier to address the site and said COVID had interrupted those plans. Staff said working with tribal leaders and their federal partners could create better opportunities to obtain environmental funding for abatement and riprap work than county action alone. A county staff member noted that the parcel is county property and recommended surveying the site before any transfer or major work.
Commissioners asked staff to bring a map and a proposal with next steps, including whether the site could be nominated as a historic place to enable additional funding pathways. Staff said an architectural historian and nomination would be required for historic designation, and that the county had previously explored using a park-service staff member’s historical assessment for nominations.
Commissioners and staff discussed technical issues for riprap and shoreline protection, including the need for rock that is not glacially weathered for stability. Staff suggested engaging county engineers and state or federal environmental partners and returning the item to a future agenda with more detailed proposals and maps.
The meeting did not include a formal vote or a binding direction beyond staff research and a request to return the matter with proposals and surveys. The commission scheduled its next meetings for Jan. 15 and later dates.
