Asbestos to be removed from school

Robinson Brothers Environmental of Waunakee, Wis., was awarded a $393,106.28 contract by the Fairfield school board to complete the asbestos abatement project at the middle school.

Fred McElwee, the district?s director of auxiliary services, said the asbestos removal project will be completed in two steps, with work on the first floor set for this summer, and work on the upper floor set for next summer.

?Logistically, I think it?s too tough to do both this summer,? McElwee said.

By doing the second floor next summer, he continued, it will coincide with the HVAC installation project and save the district some money. When the lights are taken down for asbestos removal, they can be replaced when the HVAC work is being done, he explained.

Five bids were received for the contract from Active Thermal Concepts of Hiawatha; Lindstrom Environmental of Plymouth, Minn.; ESA Inc of North Sioux City, S.D.; Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation of Davenport; and Robinson Brothers.

McElwee told the school board members that Shive-Hattery has worked with Robinson Brothers before and had no qualms recommending awarding the bid to the company.

The $393,106.28 contract is below the construction budget of $555,000. It will be paid from the district?s S.A.V.E. funds.

The school board also approved a contract with FSS Inc. to install camera and security systems at Pence Elementary School for $34,367.09 and Washington Elementary School for $29,149.64. The cost will be paid from the S.A.V.E. funds.

?In times of a budget crunch ? I realize it?s for security, but how really is it needed to be done this year?? asked board member Bob Waugh.

?If we don?t do it, and there is an incident, we?d be in over that much in a lawsuit,? said board member Margaret Dwyer. ?I don?t like spending money on things students can?t take away with them. ? I don?t see getting around this.?

?If someone really wants to do something, they?re going to do it,? said Waugh.

?This has other values,? said Dwyer, and Fairfield Middle School Principal Mike Dailey relayed how the cameras had caught kids damaging the building. The kids were identified and the situation was settled within a couple of hours with parents and police.

Board member Jennifer Anderson asked if Libertyville Elementary School was closed in the future, couldn?t it?s system be installed in a different school.

McElwee answered its cameras could be moved to the high school where there are additional spots administrators would like cameras.

The contract was awarded to FSS by a split vote ? Anderson and Waugh cast the two no votes.