Asbestos caused Big Horn County Courthouse closure

Posted 8/20/19

After a week of remaining mum about the details, Big Horn County leaders announced Thursday that an issue with asbestos led them to close the Basin courthouse Aug. 8.

In an update posted to the …

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Asbestos caused Big Horn County Courthouse closure

Posted

After a week of remaining mum about the details, Big Horn County leaders announced Thursday that an issue with asbestos led them to close the Basin courthouse Aug. 8.

In an update posted to the county’s website Thursday, Big Horn County leaders said there was “a possible asbestos exposure” that stemmed from ongoing renovations at the courthouse. However, “testing results indicated that a minute amount of asbestos was detected in the building that measured less than one-tenth of acceptable levels,” the post said.

Because of its fire-resistant properties, asbestos was once commonly used in construction. However, it’s since been discovered that the mineral’s fibers can damage lungs and lead to multiple health problems if they’re inhaled over a long period of time. Removing asbestos typically requires hiring a specialized contractor. A qualified asbestos abatement team was set to start cleaning the entire Big Horn County Courthouse on Monday.

Once the work is done and signed off on by a testing agency, offices at the courthouse will reopen. Most offices have remained inaccessible to the public since Aug. 8. A number of Big Horn County residents have traveled to Park County to renew their vehicle’s license plates or to get help with other issues.

Big Horn County officials have estimated that their clerk’s, treasurer’s and assessor’s offices wouldn’t reopen until Monday, Aug. 26.

As offices open, notices will be posted on the county’s Facebook page and website. Law enforcement agencies, along with county attorney’s office and the circuit and district courts, continue to operate.

Big Horn County leaders immediately closed the courthouse “as a precaution” on the afternoon of Aug. 8, though they refused to say exactly what had led to the closure until Thursday; emergency management coordinator LaRae Dobbs told the Basin Republican Rustler last week that Big Horn County Attorney Marcia Bean had advised officials not to divulge the specific nature of the “concerns.”

“We thank the public for your patience as we work to ensure the safety of our patrons and employees,” said Thursday’s posting on the county website. “We apologize for the unforeseen inconvenience this closure creates.”

The entire courthouse is expected to be cleaned within 30 days.

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