County building requires asbestos abatement before renovation

The Crawford County Administrator Paul Compo said that asbestos abatement is required before proceeding with a renovation project to the county building.

According to Compo, an asbestos survey was made in the county building as part of the planning for the county’s addition and renovation project.

The county board will issue $1.5 million in bonds to make the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project includes installing an elevator for people to access the basement floor of the building, making handicapped accessible bathrooms and shifting doorways and counters to serve the handicapped better.

A licensed asbestos inspector from Mackinac Environmental Technology Inc. completed the asbestos survey for Northwest Design Group, a Petoskey based engineering and planning firm, and for Crawford County officials.

According to the survey results, regulated asbestos-containing material was present in the first floor foyer, the staircase off the foyer, two rest rooms next to the foyer, the basement landing located at the bottom of the stairs and the two rest rooms close to the basement landing. Asbestos was discovered in floor tiles and pipe insulation.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen. The tiny fibers of asbestos become airborne if the material is disturbed or broken. Inhalation of these fibers may result in severe health issues and terminal diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

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