[ back ]
Trustees raise cane over razing delays
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - May 16, 2012)
Trustees raise cane over razing delays
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Munson Township Trustees' patience is wearing thin over a dilapidated structure they have been attempting to get demolished for three years.
The structure at 13417 Rockhaven Road was one of four that were deemed health hazards by county officials and slated for demolition by the township. Three of them were razed, but the one of Rockhaven Road remains standing, virtually untouched since the process began.
Late last month, trustees met with property owner Kristopher Klingmann, who said he personally planned to remove asbestos found in the building that once served as a nursing home. His pledge to remove the asbestos is a deviation from the way the work has been done in the past.
Bert Mechenbier, supervisor of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's air-pollution-control program for Lake and Geauga counties, said it is the first time an individual has asked to perform the work himself. Generally, he said, qualified contractors have handled such projects.
Mr. Mechenbier said the state would inspect the work by Mr. Klingmann closely to ensure that it's done safely and presents no health hazards.
Complicating the issue is coordinating those inspections. Mr. Klingmann said he hoped to do the work on weekday nights and weekends. Mr. Mechenbier said that conflicts with the regular work schedule.
The Munson Fire Department has offered to help by conducting a fire-training exercise after the asbestos is removed. That would eliminate most of the structure and relieve Mr. Klingmann of most of the demolition costs.
Fire Chief Bernerd Harchar said the training must be conducted before the middle of summer.
A week after that April meeting, when Township Trustees expected a detailed schedule of the work planned by Mr. Klingmann, they expressed disappointment over the lack of details provided by him.
In an email, Mr. Klingmann wrote, "My intentions are to have the asbestos remediation completed prior to July 15" to take advantage of the fire department's offer. "If the remediation is not complete by this date, I understand that the township will follow the path that you feel is appropriate to remedy the situation."
Trustee Irene McMullen wrote back that she had hoped for a more complete timeline, including when the asbestos abatement is to be completed and whether the July 15 deadline means the demolition and cleanup will be done. "I would appreciate it if you would provide as many details of your work as possible, and responses to my questions, at a minimum," she wrote.
Trustee Todd Ray expressed the same concerns. "We have a clear understanding that the representative from the EPA, who will monitor the abatement work, has strong reservations that one individual can do this work in full compliance with abatement protocols," he wrote. "There were also important questions to be resolved regarding the EPA monitoring and how it may limit the time that you can work on the abatement."
Mr. Ray called for Mr. Klingmann to provide the start date, the dates and times when he would be working on abatement and how monitoring might affect the timeline.
If trustees detect any troubles in handling the work and finishing in a timely manner, the township would intervene, Mr. Ray said. "While I appreciate Mr. Klingmann's intention to complete the remediation himself, it is my opinion that the board should be prepared to intervene and abort this process in the event that there are compliance problems and/or insufficient progress toward meeting the target deadline," he wrote. "I do not expect the board will wait until July 15 to intervene if there are performance questions raised in the weeks prior to that date."
[ back ]
