As part of a capital improvement project to improve the Cayuga County Office Building's heating and air-conditioning system, asbestos that may become airborne during improvement work must first be abated.

On Tuesday night, county legislators unanimously approved a $193,004 order for hazardous material abatement to Siracusa Mechanical, Inc. to perform an increased scope of asbestos work in the mechanical rooms in the COB.

Additional proposals are based on the original contract by C&S Engineers as part of the Cayuga County Office Building Energy Improvement Project.

Legislators saved the county $8,682 by not approving two of the four proposals suggested by the firm.

“I've been told by consultants that it's cheaper to do this now than later,” County Manager Wayne Allen told legislators Tuesday night.

The standard scope of work costing the county taxpayers $127,017 includes abatement of the mechanical rooms from the basement up to the fifth floor mechanical room and also includes the removal in ceilings of mechanical rooms, the basement and the beam insulation from five rooms in the basement.

Legislators only approved two of four additional proposals presented by the firm at an extra $65,987 cost to the standard scope of work.

Alternate One proposes abating the mechanical room on the first floor Memorial Day weekend at a cost of $24,012.

“If we do this during the week we can't open the building,” Allen said.

“It will take three days, not two, so we hope to do it Memorial Day weekend when the building is closed.

Alternate Two includes plans to abate asbestos in the ceiling tiles of a frequently used conference room in the basement of the COB for $41,975.

“If the tiles fall we have to evacuate the entire building,” Allen said.

Legislators didn't approve paying an additional $3,795 to erect walls to build an office for the deputy treasurer or for abatement work in the mechanical room on the roof for $4,887.

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net