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Morgan County ratifies $25,310.12 emergency remediation after asbestos and mold found in county offices
Summary
The Morgan County Commission on March 18 ratified an emergency remediation and repairs to the recorder and assessor offices after asbestos and mold were discovered, approving $25,310.12 to cover remediation and related repairs; Chair Matt Wilson abstained because of a declared conflict.
The Morgan County Commission voted March 18 to ratify emergency remediation work at county offices after asbestos and mold were discovered, approving $25,310.12 to cover remediation and repairs. Chair Matt Wilson abstained from the vote after declaring a conflict; the motion passed with the remaining commissioners voting in favor.
County Manager Kate told the commission the remediation work was already completed and that testing returned clean results. "The remediation is completed. The testing has come back that the area is clean, and there's no residual," Kate said, describing work that included night and weekend shifts to quickly remove hazards and move staff out of affected spaces. Staff said the discovery came during normal work and required urgent action to protect employees and preserve operations.
Sean (IT/finance) credited the county manager for taking immediate steps. "I just wanna give Kate credit for what she did," Sean said, noting staff evacuated equipment and coordinated response. Commissioners debated procurement and policy gaps exposed by the emergency; the county manager said she planned to accelerate procurement-policy revisions to clarify how emergencies are handled in future.
The commission also discussed whether the overnight/weekend premium in the remediation invoice would be adjusted; staff responded the amount presented reflected emergency work performed outside normal hours. Commissioner Nickerson moved to ratify the remediation and repair of the recorder and assessor's offices in the amount of $25,310.12; Commissioner Newton seconded. The motion passed with Chair Wilson abstaining.
Why it matters: The remediation affects staff safety and exposes the county to immediate repair costs and policy scrutiny. Commissioners said they will pursue clearer procurement rules and education from state air-quality officials to guide future emergency decisions and reduce potential high-cost overnight work.
Next steps: Staff will bring proposed procurement and surplus-policy revisions to the commission in Q2 and arrange a brief presentation from the state Division of Air Quality at a future meeting to clarify emergency thresholds and best practices.
