001Sure. Um, >> I was just I'm sorry. I was just teasing. You're welcome. I need to wait for the agenda item or kind of how it works, but >> wait for the agenda item. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I It's It's a running gag with us that there's no never any >> community. Yes. Usually there's our community member. >> Sorry, make that confusing. All right. Um, so we are here to discuss the authorization of the emergency ro mold remediation and installation replacement at Westbrook and I know Jason is gonna give us a little overview. >> Yeah, absolutely. So, first of all, thank you all for coming together. Uh, really appreciate it. I'm glad it's not Wednesday night. I was worried about that for a second. Um so at Westbrook as you know we've started uh
002construction and as part of the construction um besides building the addition on Westbrook we're also doing things to the existing building including putting in springore system that was part of the referendum and the and what we talked about the community. So this year uh the spring system is being put in the lower level um or garden level at Westbrook. Um and as the ceiling tiles were um taken out during uh the construction, so this is after students were gone. Um and we started taking ceiling tiles down uh mold was found on there are pipes that have insulation around the pipes and then on the insulation uh there was mold. So immediately um I was contacted um and we brought out um first company Ramble that we've used for asbestous abatement in the past um for
003air quality testing in the past. Um and so we brought them out to look at it. Um and then we pulled together uh quickly after that. Uh really everybody was everybody from um architects and our construction firm to our mechanical engineer um somebody from uh who helps serve as our HVAC our inter internal custodians as well. Ramble is back there um to look at the project and see what was needed. Um and what we really determined is um you have a map like that. Um that shows you the outline of Westbrook. Uh the dotted line is where the addition's going. So don't look at the dotted line. Obviously that's not even built yet. Um but it gives you the U of the lower level. And this is a rough not drawn to scale. Uh but
004but the company was helping. Uh this is where the pipes exist. So the pipes run down the the corridor, run down the hallway, and then they go off into the classrooms and then into the events. And so um the piping in spots uh and through, you know, it not all of it, but uh there was mold found um on some of it. And as we talked and as we had conversations, uh the direction was really um to look at removing the insulation. Um so you know obviously uh remedi what's the word they use? >> Remediation >> remediate uh the um mold and the existing insulation. Um clean the pipes and then put in new insulation that is from my understanding better than what we currently have. Um you know one of the issues we we
005currently have with the current insulation is that if there's a problem in one spot it can spread. And so the new insulation, my understanding is that if we have a problem in one spot, we can cut it. We can fix that spot and not have the fear that it's spread. It's spreading to make sure obviously we get it all. Um and so with this because we we are not sure exactly where it is and maybe it's under the insulation. We don't know. We we're taking up all the insulation to clean and then put it back up. The reason for uh the expedited timeline is, you know, the goal of not wanting to impact um students and when they can come back to school. And so we want to do it as quickly as possible. You
006can see even like with reaching out to vendors. Um the vendors listed are the ones that um gave us quotes. Um but the um there are other vendors that we reached out to that uh one even came up but said they couldn't they didn't have the the people to do it in the time that we need others didn't respond. Um so these are the ones that could do it in the time that we um that we need them. Ramble is the company at the top is a company that we've used before. They will ensure that um everything is being done uh the way it should be with the cleaning and with the removal of the mold. Um they will give us an inspection report afterwards. Um and then later on um they do like I
007said they've done air quality testing for those before and they will do it. They do it when kids are in session. So um they will do it uh in the fall after school starts off. They will come in air quality testing just to make sure that I'm sure I'm missing something but I guess questions and I can answer the questions you have. uh timeline about anything else. >> Is this is this the only area we found? Did you inspect like >> Yeah. So the so the pipes actually it's interesting. So the pipes are only in the lower level. So even though we're not doing the upper level until next year, there are no pipes up there. Um if you if you remember in the classrooms in the upper level, it's like the the raised wood
008ceiling. There is no drop ceiling. Um there is a drop zone in the hallway, but we went um double checked. But yeah, that these pipes that we're talking about are only in the lower level and then they go up to the unit vent or down to the unit vents in the that level. They're in the ceiling at the lower level. >> Okay, good question, >> Jason. Um a I guess just a couple questions. Yeah, I'm always curious when I see posts that are so different, right, for the same scope. >> Yeah, this may be hard to answer. Any idea? Maybe you guys can answer. Any idea why that is? Yeah, I mean I can speak to the timing of it and the nature of of just how quickly we need to get it done and
009then manpower availability. So like even um my understanding is that there were bids solicited and we got numbers but it came with the uh caveat that I can't actually do the work because I don't have the manpower. So, you know, depending on on each company's manpower situation and just understanding how quickly we needed to get this put together, it really dictates, you know, where the numbers are going to be. And then in the same way, like certain contractors are heavy into schools, some aren't. And so if there is availability, a contractor will obviously be able to provide a much more aggressive number as compared to someone who's kind of tied up between maybe four, five, six different school districts. And they may have the ability to do it, but it's going to be either on
010a premium time or, you know, just at a higher price. >> So they're giving you what in in my world, we call the going away price, right? >> Yeah. I mean, when there's >> here's a ridiculous price that we don't think you'll pay, but if you do, hey, we'll make it happen. >> Yes. I mean, I think if this were something that we knew months and months and months in advance, and it would it just would have been a much different outcome. Got it. >> For sure. The only other question I have and and forgive me for asking this, but is this the kind of thing that I know this is Monday morning quarterbacking that we could have predicted and included in the original scope that hey, we're probably going to find this. So, let's
011just include the money to remediate and remove in the in the entire project scope. And if we don't have to, awesome. But let's just assume we're going to have to. >> Yeah. I mean, that's a that's a fair question. And you know typically that scope of work in terms of like the investigation for environmental will fall on the district's environmental consultant. So you know on other projects when it comes to abatement and all the environmental we're usually separate of that. Now certainly there's a level of coordination that we have. Uh but it's it's really not my place to say whether or not it it could have been determined in advance because you know we did get reports about you know areas that I think we had an asbestous report. >> Yeah, we do. >> So
012you know but why that wasn't on there I can't speak to. >> Um excuse me. I think if I'm understanding correctly that this money that's going to pay for it is going to come out of the contingency that exists for West. >> So it it'll it'll come out Yeah, it'll we plan on taking it out of Yes. the referendum money that we have built in. >> All right. So actually that raises a followup maybe if that's the case then if it's already part of a a project funding that's been approved what's the reason for us having to approve this as a separate >> so we we we will sign these contracts go right through district 57 so not through Nicholas they're helping and supporting us but this will go right through us and we will
013sign with them >> where how it's paid for is through referendum money. Um we do have contingency built in, but we're also very early into the construction. Um so we'll see where that goes, of course. Um but it the plan is that it'll come out of referendum and so it we're viewing it as a separate as a separate contract with these three. >> Got it. And the outlay has to happen now as opposed to >> whenever our next one is. Yeah, >> we're just trying to get it done. >> Yeah, makes sense. >> Okay, makes sense. >> Anybody has questions? >> I have a couple. So, Jason, just to just to restate, I just want to make sure I'm clear. So, uh, we identified some specific areas where mold was present, but I think what
014you said is that we're going to remove all the insulation from all the piping. Is that correct? Yeah. and then remediate where we found a clean and then reinstall new installation. So like Okay. Right. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. I just want to make sure I understood that. >> Okay. >> Um and then my other question was about so based on the the duration that's sort of laid out in the chart, where does that take us to assuming we hit all these timelines? Like what's the >> anticipated like start date? I'm just trying to I'm just >> Sure. as my again my experience has been you know schedules are laid out and that's obviously best case scenario but we can always run into things I'm just wondering how much wiggle room we have between >>
015like the 20 days that is going to take versus the start of the school year >> yeah so we confirmed with coffax that they can actually start on Thursday >> okay obviously depending on how this whole thing goes um and so I I we confirmed that this uh morning and then um the KFax has told us that the the insulation can start um about 3 days after they just kind of follow them along as they overlap. >> They can do overlap. So you don't have to wait the whole 8 days for for the 20 days to start chasing each other. >> So matter of fact, it's it ends before the August 13th. I can't remember exactly at one point, but yeah, we can count days. There is a contingency as you see on there in
016case they need to come in and do on a Sunday to make sure it's getting done. We'll be there making sure they're working. What's nice is we because the work is getting done right now with the sprinklers. We have people on site making sure everything's moving and they'll kind of work together to lay out. >> And that was my last question. And I think you said this too is that this won't delay the construction work as well, like they're still able to show the work. I'll do my double check today. >> I mean, all work can continue. I think the goal is obviously while ceilings are out and everything is exposed. This is what makes the most sense so that we can get it all done, but it all up one time, not have to
017go back in later. All right. Can I get a motion? >> Do I get to ask any questions? >> I'm sorry. >> No problem. >> Um and I please >> um so my name is uh Vita Lar Rocei. I'm a uh parent here in District 57, obviously a resident as well. Uh my background, I'm a uh realer, home inspector with an appraiser, firefighter for 20 years. I have a lot of knowledge about building construction, ventilation issues, and stuff like that. Um I'm not here to cause any but I did have just kind of uh not concerned, but maybe some questions that might want to get asked, you know, regarding this. Um and you know, maybe you guys already asked these questions. Um, has any type of air quality testing been done so far in the
018current condition of the property of the of the school itself to find out what the levels are in common areas and classrooms. The reason why I asked this is because um, number one, you know, to identify any type of mold, possible mold that might be present. Um, and number two, to the exposure that staff and students have had there for how many years is it kind of going on? um you know that's kind of planned to do an air quality test prior to remediation. >> Do you want to go through the questions and then >> Got it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, keep on asking all the questions. Got it. Okay. >> Um and then I guess it's kind of followed from that is has a mold know been identified. I'm sure everybody's kind of
019aware there are hazardous types of mold, there's non-hazardous types of mold. Um so, you know, is that going to kind of be tested to identify that? Um also the cost. um you know, working with thousands of clients, everybody wants to kind of remediate a problem, but what's causing the problem? Is it a ventilation issue up in the attic space? Because if we remediate this problem without taking care of what the actual cause is, this is something that could likely happen in the future and unless testing is done, it's going to be no one's going to have any knowledge of it. Um you're going to get working. So, is it an issue with ventilation up in that attic area? I'm assuming it's the attic area where this these these pipes are above the ceiling tile. So,
020is it the ventilation, lack of ventilation up there due to high humidity levels, or is it because of there's an actual moisture intrusion coming from somewhere causing this type of mold that's kind of growing there? Um, that's pretty much Yeah, those are my questions. >> Okay, yeah, that's fine. Um, I'll start with the cause. I I'm just because that's one I wrote down here. Um so yeah, so we've had um our mechanical engineer on site as well as uh the company that works with our HVAC system. Um they're still looking at some ideas um of why it's happened. They've talked about set points of uh the different rooms. Um and they've look talked about the idea of like does there need to be more circulating up there? Is it the idea that this um just
021you know it's an older building and therefore the insulation you know obviously newer insulation is better but um but is that the idea? So, they're having those conversations. We haven't gotten there yet. We're obviously moving quickly on more of the let's make sure we have a plan in place to get kids back in the building, but that's is the next step that we have. Um, for the mold identified and tested, I actually reached out to Ramble to ask those questions. Um, and I just I'm waiting for a response back from them. Um, you know, they um will get back to me about like what they believe and what what we should be doing. Um, and then we'll share that. Um and then for testing done so um we haven't done testing currently. Um we have
022asked about um air quality testing. We've done air quality testing in the past in different buildings. Um the air quality testing is usually done during while kids are in the building, but right now there's construction going on. It's it's a very different atmosphere. Um but we do have a plan to do air quality testing as soon as the building is put back together. Um and so um we can see make sure that what we've has done it and hope it has to make the building safe. >> Nice. >> Um so based off of that um you said that um air quality testing has been done in the past >> and we have done it in some schools. I I have to double check where we are with >> my my concern is for the staff
023and the students and their exposure that have been there. Um if you air if you test the air quality after you remediate the problem obviously you're more than likely not going to come up with anything. And my concern is, you know, very minor, I shouldn't say minor, but very small percentage of of individuals will, you know, have severe illnesses from mold exposure. And I don't know if there's any type of history with staff. Obviously, it's going to be the staff most of the time because they're the ones that are working there 10, 20, 30 years. Um, that would be my concern. you know, any unknown um undiagnosed health issues that they've had in the past could have been a cause from not not to cause a problem, but you know, could have been, you know,
024some reason for they've had some other hopefully not, but >> yeah, I'll definitely bring that concern to to our >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Good questions. >> All right. Question. Does the overtime contingencies would they would that 20k possibly be used for anything identified as to root cause? Is that 20k like or is this just for in the need? >> That's for making sure we're done before kids to school. So if we're if it's taking longer. >> So if uh during this process they do identify the root cause of where this is coming from, that's a different conversation. If they decided we need to change how HVAC is working or what set points are yes >> and that's all part of >> but some of that might not get caused in
025our settings within our we would identify that in a combination of these three sections we've learned the >> uh working with our mechanical >> okay thank you thank you everybody um can I get a motion to approve resolution approving Emergency expenditure of funds for environmental remediation and insulation removal and replacement. >> Second. >> Member Dorner. >> Yes. >> Member Fay. >> Yes. >> Member Qualcha. >> Yes. >> Vice President Leto. >> Yes. >> Member Nelson. >> Yes. >> Member De. >> Yes. >> President Bennett Hill. >> Yes. >> All right. Do we have a need for close session? It's >> Thursday morning, right? That's what I heard you say. >> That's what they told me. Okay. >> 6 a.m. >> Can I get a motion to return? >> So move. >> Second. >> Member Fay.
026>> Yes. >> Member Colch. Vice President Leto. Yes. >> Member Nelson. >> Yes. >> Member D. >> Yes. >> Member Dorner. >> Yes. >> President Ben. >> Yes. >> Thanks for coming. >> Thank you all very much.