Julie Perez, director of maintenance and operations, told the Facilities Committee on July 24 that fixed-assets restroom improvements were delayed by asbestos testing and abatement but are now underway and expected to finish in about three weeks, subject to inspections.
The work matters because it restores and upgrades employee and program restrooms in an older district building that required asbestos abatement and permitting changes with the City of Edinburg; the project also added an ADA ramp to improve accessibility.
Perez described the timeline: initial asbestos testing prompted a permit denial while the structure was added to the city’s map; abatement did not pass on the first clearance test and a second abatement was completed, after which the project moved forward. Perez said the ADA ramp and railing are installed and that crews have demoed six walls and erected three new walls; remaining work includes plumbing, minor electrical, painting and inspections. Perez said she is “very confident” the project will be finished within three weeks, depending on inspection timing.
Because of overlapping priorities with the Canterbury work, maintenance shifted staff and resources; Perez said library-services staff already moved to the Technology Building and that all affected fixed-assets staff will operate from the Technology Building until the restrooms are complete. Trustees asked for photos and a board update; Perez said staff would provide pictures and report back to the full board when the work reaches completion milestones.
No formal vote was taken; the update was informational and staff committed to supply a photographic update and inspection confirmation to the board.