Court okays inspection report on toxins

The Donley County Commissioners’ Court accepted an environmental inspection report as part of the courthouse restoration project Monday morning.

Luis Acuña of Sun City Analytical, Inc., presented his firm’s findings and said asbestos and lead paint concentrations are low in the 1890 building.

Asbestos was found in the floor tile in five rooms and covers less than 1,500 sq. ft. A small amount of piping in a crawl space also is wrapped in asbestos.

Acuña said lead paint is mostly found on the metal ceilings of the building and can most effectively be dealt with by encapsulating it. In other words, the ceilings will just be painted over.

As expected, Acuña reported the bat infestation to be the biggest abatement challenge for the project. Contractors will use special vacuum devices to suck out as much of the guano as possible.

Most of the bats themselves are expected to migrate out of the building for the winter. Acuña has said previously that special netting will be used to interfere with the bats’ sonar and keep them out.

The bats, which Acuña identified as the Mexican Free Tail species, might take up residence under the bridges along the city’s main drainage ditch, he said.

The next step facing Donley County will be the development of an abatement plan by Acuña’s firm, which will become the basis for letting the bids for the abatement.

For more information on the restoration of the Donley County Courthouse, click here.