Board to restart Edwards Fort demolition after asbestos testing shows $300,000 removal estimate

The board’s chair told trustees that recent material testing at the Edwards Fort building produced a new asbestos-removal estimate of about $300,000, raising the combined demolition and abatement cost to roughly $500,000 and requiring a restart of the procurement process.

“The asbestos removal alone is $300,000,” the chair said, reporting that Robinsons—the company awarded the demolition bid—has said it cannot perform the work for its original price and that the district will have to reject the bids and begin again. The chair added the board will likely need to hire an engineer and follow state-mandated procedures; the state of Indiana may also place an on-site representative on the project for an extended period.

Board members said the added cost moves the project into a different regulatory realm and will increase administrative and consulting expenses. No formal motion to reject the previous bid package appears in the transcript record beyond the chair’s public announcement that bids will be rejected and that further steps are forthcoming.

The board did not provide a firm budget source or timeline for a reissued solicitation during the meeting. The chair said more information will be developed and presented to the board after staff obtains firm engineering and cost estimates.