The engineer and contractor overseeing work on the collapsed Kramer Roof building told McComb city officials this morning that the first and second floors are mostly intact.
“The owners can rebuild if they want to,” said Chuck Womack of Eagle Construction Inc., which began its debris removal efforts Wednesday morning.
He and structural engineer Jeff Laird appeared at a city board meeting, which had been rescheduled from Tuesday because the mayor and selectmen were to be out of town at a conference.
Laird said that he and Womack had entered the building Thursday and toured every floor except the basement, which was inaccessible, and determined that the first and second floors are in good condition, with only a few damaged roof beams.
Womack said that tests of debris removed came back positive for asbestos in the roofing material, but that it should not delay his company’s work, which is estimated to take 21 days.
Eagle Construction is licensed by the state Department of Environmental Quality to test and handle asbestos, and Womack said it would require “containerization” in separate dumpsters from other debris.
He added that air monitoring would take place to ensure no asbestos had drifted from the building site.
“Everything is going real smoothly,” said Womack.
Laird, the engineer, said that after his tour of the building, “I feel a lot better about it than I did Monday.”
Several Eagle employees worked atop the collapsed roof this morning as a crane lifted a dumpster to them.
Mayor Whitney Rawlings noted that Eagle will work every day, including weekends, until the job is finished. Womack said that rain, which is forecast for Saturday, would not impede his team’s work.
As work continues, questions remain about what will happen to the businesses that are temporarily closed.
In a statement Thursday night, Mayor Whitney Rawlings said the city is working with business owners in order to safely remove any pertinent information they may need during the cleanup. He said they would be allowed back into their businesses for 30 minutes at 6 this evening.
Rawlings acknowledged that this incident has caused some strain on businesses, some of which have been forced to temporarily relocate — including the school that occupied Kramer Roof.
With the first day of school set to start on Wednesday, Jubilee Performing Arts Center director Terrance Alexander said officials are still considering where the high school will hold classes.
“We are still considering our options. When we make a final decision I will put out a release with an update of what’s next,” Alexander said this morning.
Broadway Deli owner Allison Hewitt said her business is in the process of relocating to Front Street next to McComb Electric.
“I think everyone will be pleased with this amazing location. It is larger, but not too big. It has much, much better parking and an awesome courtyard. We are so thrilled we have found this new place,” Hewitt posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “We have worked all day getting utilities cut on, layout plans and food permit applications in order. We are trying to get open as fast as possible. I will keep you posted.”
Rawlings asked for patience as the cleanup continues.
“Please know the City Board has the right team in place to stabilize this building, with safety in mind first and foremost and with the goal of returning life to normal as soon as possible in our downtown,” he said. “We are working to shrink the footprint of temporarily condemned properties and get some businesses owners back in there office. We expect to know more on Monday afternoon.”
Rawlings said sightseeing around the building while construction takes place is prohibited.
“This area remains cordoned off with no access allowed to public, including both foot traffic and vehicular traffic,” he said. “Anyone that violates this restricted space is subject to fine and/or arrest. Safety is our utmost concern."
