Bil Mar, an environmental services group contracted by the Liberty County Commission, began removing asbestos from a few sections of the east end annex late last week in preparation for renovations.
The structure is the old Midway Elementary School, which now houses the Midway City Hall and civic center.
“Right now we’re doing what we can do with the SPLOST [special purpose local option sales tax] money we have,” County Administrator Joey Brown said about the building which will eventually be an east end annex for the county that will include a new Midway/Riceboro Library Branch, recreation facilities and classrooms.
The total coast of asbestos removal is $74,500.
In addition to removing the asbestos, a process that Brown anticipates completing this week, commissioners are preparing for some demolition.
“We’re about to put the rfq (request for quotation) and rfp’s (request for proposal) on the street for the demolition,” Brown said. “That’s got to be on the street in the next two weeks.”
However, after asbestos and demolition, Brown said the process will come to a standstill until more SPLOST money accumulates. Then Brown said they can plan renovations, which will include more cosmetic procedures.
There is more than $3 million earmarked for the entire construction project.
Midway Mayor Don Emmons said he is excited to see progress.
“We’re excited anything is happening out there, it’s been a long time,” Emmons said. “The community is very anxious for the library to be relocated. That’s one of the questions I hear most.”
The mayor said he knows commissioners want to get the project completed as soon as possible, but that it’s not easy to find funding.
“It’s just a matter of time and money,” he said.
The structure is the old Midway Elementary School, which now houses the Midway City Hall and civic center.
“Right now we’re doing what we can do with the SPLOST [special purpose local option sales tax] money we have,” County Administrator Joey Brown said about the building which will eventually be an east end annex for the county that will include a new Midway/Riceboro Library Branch, recreation facilities and classrooms.
The total coast of asbestos removal is $74,500.
In addition to removing the asbestos, a process that Brown anticipates completing this week, commissioners are preparing for some demolition.
“We’re about to put the rfq (request for quotation) and rfp’s (request for proposal) on the street for the demolition,” Brown said. “That’s got to be on the street in the next two weeks.”
However, after asbestos and demolition, Brown said the process will come to a standstill until more SPLOST money accumulates. Then Brown said they can plan renovations, which will include more cosmetic procedures.
There is more than $3 million earmarked for the entire construction project.
Midway Mayor Don Emmons said he is excited to see progress.
“We’re excited anything is happening out there, it’s been a long time,” Emmons said. “The community is very anxious for the library to be relocated. That’s one of the questions I hear most.”
The mayor said he knows commissioners want to get the project completed as soon as possible, but that it’s not easy to find funding.
“It’s just a matter of time and money,” he said.