District 64 hires familiar firm for Carpenter asbestos bid

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Updated: April 10, 2012 11:54AM

A firm was hired to perform the design-and-bidding process for asbestos removal at Carpenter Elementary School at the school board meeting Jan. 23.

The design-and-management fee for services from ENVIRON International Corporation will cost the district about $72,000, and the actual asbestos-abatement work is estimated at $485,000.

The asbestos removal will not be necessary, though, if the board decides not to move forward with air-conditioning and boiler projects at Carpenter.

Scott Mackall, director of facility management, said that on April 9, school-board members will decide whether to give their final approval on the HVAC/boiler work.

Recently the board gave permission to move forward with the design plans for the HVAC/boiler improvements.

Mackall said there is about 3,000 feet of piping in the attic.

“The piping in the attic is wrapped in asbestos,” Mackall said.

There is also asbestos in the two old boilers at Carpenter. Mackall said that it is intact, and that students and staff are not in danger from the asbestos.

At the board meeting Jan. 23, board member Dan Collins shared his concerns with selecting ENVIRON to do the work.

“I have concerns with not bidding this out,” said Collins, who felt there should have been a competitive bid on the project, and that the board should discuss bidding projects to determine a cost at which projects should be bid out.

Board President John Heyde said the board is not required to bid out professional services.

“The issue here is timing,” said District 64 Superintendent Philip Bender, who supported hiring ENVIRON.

The district has worked with the company for more than 10 years. ENVIRON managed the asbestos removal at Washington School in the past.