Norfolk firm awarded asbestos cleanup contract

A firm from Norfolk will remove asbestos from a vacant commercial building at 204 Norris Ave.

Environmental Services was the lowest of three proposals the city received for the work, at $29,500. Other bids came from Contracting Specialties Inc. of Omaha for $56,130 and Great Plains Asbestos Control of Kearney for $38,816.

The McCook City Council approved awarding the bid at the regular council meeting Monday night.

The structure, at the corner of B Street and Norris Avenue, is slated for demolition and removing asbestos from the building is required before that can begin.

The asbestos removal, as well as the demolition, will be paid for with funds from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, Community Development Block Grant the city was awarded.

Other consent agenda items the council approved unanimously Monday night included:

* plans and specifications for the 2010 armor coating and set the time to receive bids as April 26, 2:30 p.m.

* the request from Terry Sitzman to close C Street from Norris Avenue to West First and Norris Avenue to East First on May 1, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., for a benefit car show for Baylie Simmonds.

* a resolution certifying that the city is capable of providing public transportation for citizens and an application for state and federal assistance to provide public transportation. The application is made every year. Federal funds being requested are $65,539 and $31,070 is being requested from the state, with city matching funds at $31,070.

* a waiver of payment in lieu of taxes to the McCook Housing Agency. The waiver is a requirement from the federal Housing and Urban Development program and is presented to the council each year.

The council also approved on second reading an amended city ordinance that will exempt lawn sprinkler systems that do not apply chemicals, from the yearly testing of backflow protection devices.