Bids opened for Happy Valley asbestos inspection
By PAMELA BRUST, pbrust@newsandsentinel.comPARKERSBURG - Wood County commissioners opened two bids Monday from vendors vying to do asbestos inspection of the latest Happy Valley property scheduled for demolition under a grant-funded federal flood mitigation project.
Bids were received from Jackson Dynamics of Fairmont for $1,400, and from American Pride of Williamstown for $387.69.
"We need to refer both bids to Tim Meeks, with the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council for review and recommendation," commission President Rick Modesitt said after the bids were opened and publicly announced.
"We'll do a background check and come back with a recommendation for you on Thursday. We need to make sure there are no problems with any federal or state agencies with regard to these companies and check to make sure their contractor's licenses are up to date. That's the standard procedure we follow," Meeks said.
The ad seeking the sealed bids for the asbestos inspection stated the bidders had to be certified asbestos abatement contractors.
The selected consultant will be required to do check for asbestos-containing materials, identifying the types, quantity and location within the property at 808 Happy Valley Road, which is scheduled for demolition. The selected consultant is to prepare, based on completion of the site inspection, sampling and lab data analysis, a report to include a summary of the inspection and sampling, conclusions and recommendations for the abatement including cost estimates for abatement and recommendations for asbestos control to safely permit subsequent demo work.
The property at 808 Happy Valley Road is scheduled for demolition under a federal flood mitigation project. The federal program funds allow the county to buy floodprone properties in a specific area so those landowners can move out of the floodplain. The goal is to reduce the number of flood damage claims. The program is offered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The last property purchased was 808 Happy Valley Road, for $222,101. Property appraisals are conducted to determine fair market value.
Two neighbors have expressed interest in leasing the property once the structures are removed. It has been the commission's past policy to lease the property for five years for the amount of tax due on the vacant land. The federal program prohibits any new structures being placed on the property once the house is removed. County officials said earlier it will probably be August before they consider leasing the land.
