Commissioners approve asbestos remediation and change order for Trumbull County Law Library steps

The Trumbull County Board of Commissioners approved Change Order No. 1 to the Daniel A. Terreri & Sons Inc. contract for the Law Library Monumental Step Replacement Project, increasing the contract from $357,600 to $375,980. County staff said the increase was necessary to remediate asbestos identified during testing in areas scheduled for replacement.

Commissioner Tony Bernard questioned the cost, calling it high for what he described as concrete steps and noting prior higher estimates that had been reduced during bidding: "I still thought that is absolutely unreason[able] for 11 or 12 steps...cement steps to a library for 350,000 dollars right now," he said. Commissioners acknowledged the discovery of asbestos and that the work will be paid from ARPA funds that must be obligated by year‑end.

Commissioners approved the change order after discussion and recorded unanimous votes in favor of the motion. The board directed facilities and project managers to monitor the project and minimize future change orders where possible.

What happens next: The contractor will proceed with asbestos remediation and step replacement under the revised contract; county staff will report on project progress to the commissioners.