Bay City Tribune

Bay City ISD began the demolition of the Hilliard Gym on LeTulle Avenue in Bay City this week, working with CAM Environmental Services to safely demolish the damaged and asbestos containing structure that has posed a danger to the neighborhood and the nearby Head Start Center.

Marty Godley, a code enforcement officer for the city, received a complaint about the building from a resident and informed the school district on Oct. 15 that the structure had "become a serious health hazard that needs some immediate attention."

The gym had suffered severe damage to the roof and the structure - which stood near the Head Start playground - was decayed, dilapidated and structurally unsafe.

Godly had been working on the property case since 2005 when the city office sent a letter to the school district letting them know something needed to be done to bring the structure into compliance or have it demolished.

Category II nonfriable asbestos containing materials were present in the tile and siding of the structure and BCISD was required to post signage marking the area for the dangerous substances.

The law defines category II asbestos containing materials as those that cannot be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to a powder like substance by hand pressure. It also states that this type of asbestos containing material may be left in place if probability is low that the material will become crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder during demolition.

CAM Environmental Services was hired by BCISD to provide project oversight and air quality monitoring. Inland Environmental Inc., a company holding the necessary and required ASRA certifications for asbestos removal and abatement, was hired to conduct the demolition.

Superintendent Keith Brown said that the district is committed to ensuring compliance with state and federal laws while safely removing the structure.

"BCISD will continue to cooperate with the City of Bay City's Code Enforcement Office," Brown said. "The health and safety of our citizens is at the forefront of our concerns."