The old saying “no news is good news” is not necessarily the case when it comes to the hazardous waste removal from old buildings which will eventually be torn down to make room for the new Clinton County Justice Center.
The bad news came in the form of no bids being received on removal of waste in the old McWhorter and Ferguson Brothers buildings, despite several contractors requesting bid packets on the project.
The demolition of the existing buildings is contingent on the waste materials being removed prior to the buildings being leveled and a new structure being built.
Demolition, early on in the project, had been slated to begin as early as January of this year, but with no bids being received as of now, it means a further delay–beyond the already almost six month time frame.
The AOC (Administrative Office of the Courts), which is spearheading the Justice Center project, and local PDB (Project Development Board) are now left with no choice other than to re-bid the waste removal project–which is estimated to take another month for that process alone.
The deadline to have bids in was last Thursday, June 22, at 5 p.m., which was the time the Clinton Fiscal Court had scheduled a special called meeting.
On hand at that meeting was a representative from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), who discussed the situation with the fiscal court members and Judge/Executive Ricky Craig.
It was noted during the discussion that some 18 companies from Kentucky, the closest being Glasgow, and several other states, as far away as Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania, had requested bid packets which detailed the scope of the project. However, none of the companies submitted a proposal.
The representative told the court the AOC would attempt to find out why there were 18 companies interested but no proposals submitted.
It was noted that likely, the only option available would be to re-bid the waste disposal project, which would extend the overall project by about a month.
The AOC representative said the project had been well advertised, both locally by local Project Development Board and nationwide on the AOC website, “which goes far and wide,” he noted.
“Any company interested in the work would have means available to download the site and view all documents (and scope of work),” the rep added.
Magistrate Tony Delk asked if any of the companies that requested a bid packet had actually “viewed the buildings on-site?” The answer was that no one had actually physically looked at the buildings and property.
Delk suggested contacting the companies who requested a bid packet and ask them why they didn’t bid, or follow through.
Magistrate Jason Pitman then said it had been advertised locally and asked if advertising in area surrounding newspapers may help, with the representative saying that could be feasible.
Judge/Executive Craig also said the waste disposal project had been well advertised and was also surprised no bids at all were received.
“It’s hard to believe they did not come to the site and look at it,” Delk said.
The EPA apparently requires certified companies to remove hazardous waste materials, and it has been stated that several chemicals, including paints, oil drums and other materials are in the buildings to be demolished (with the possible exception of the former McWhorter’s Variety).
The project will now, in all probability, have to be let for bids once again, with local officials hoping there will be a better response from perspective companies that do such work.
Meanwhile, the local Judicial Center PDB (Project Development Board) held a meeting last Friday morning, June 23, with five members on hand.
The only official item taken by the board at that meeting was a vote to request a Court Facilities Standards Committee meeting be set.
It was noted during the approximate half-hour meeting, in which the waste disposal was discussed but not voted on, that a demolition package was in place. However, there can be no action on the demolition until the waste disposal project is completed.