Published: October 13, 2008 10:52 am            

Asbestos find means more money

Pittsburg County Commissioners, in their role as trustees of the Pittsburg County Economic Development Authority, may approve a change order on Tuesday that will add to the cost of asbestos removal in the Pittsburg County Courthouse renovation project.

Commissioners will meet on Tuesday instead of Monday for both their regular commissioners’ meeting and the economic development authority meeting, due to county offices being closed today for the Columbus Day holiday.

The extra cost for asbestos removal is because more asbestos has been found, County Commission Chairman Kevin Smith said.

An exact amount of the change order was not provided.

In September, commissioners approved a little more than $59,000 as part of a payment for asbestos removal.

Smith said the new finding of asbestos was because of asbestos behind plaster in the county commissioners’ offices he and District 1 Commissioner Gene Rogers have.

He said the contract was awarded based on square footage of asbestos to be removed, and since more was found than originally known, more money is needed to pay for it.

It had already been known there was asbestos removal needed in floor tile, ductwork, and ceiling areas. Smith said there could be more asbestos found as renovations continue,

At Tuesday’s Economic Development Authority meeting, two requisition certificates could be approved for payments on work by two companies involved in the courthouse renovation project.

Another is for work that was involved in the Pittsburg County Animal Shelter project.

In the commissioners’ meeting, a new contract could be approved for service at the Pittsburg County Health Department.

The commissioners’ meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the county commissioners office at 600 E. Choctaw Ave.

The authority's meeting will take place at the same location on Tuesday, but is set to start at 10:30 a.m.

John Yates is the news director for McAlester Radio.

        

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