City prepares Surf District gateway site

The City of Clear Lake has begun demolishing a home located near the Highway 18 and Buddy Holly Place intersection to ready the site for a gateway to the Surf Ballroom District of town.

At its regular meeting Monday, the Council approved asbestos abatement at 813 Buddy Holly Place.  The city purchased the property in March with the intention of demolishing it.

City Administrator Scott Flory said the Public Works Department has been doing some preliminary work at the site, such as disconnecting utilities, tree removal and other site work.  The next step will be to remove asbestos from the site.  Demolition will likely occur this winter.

Bergo Environmental, of Mason City, was contacted to perform a pre-demolition survey for asbestos containing building materials.  The survey was completed on Sept. 1 by a certified inspector and included a visual inspection of suspect asbestos containing building materials (ACBM).

“There isn’t a lot of asbestos containing materials in the house, but not unusual for a property of this age to have some,” said Flory.

Three of 11 samples taken from the house contained at least one percent asbestos, according to the report.

The Council acted upon Flory’s recommendation to approve Bergo Environmental for removal of the asbestos from the building for a total amount of $3,975.