Asbestos tiles discovered accidentally will be removed from the county courthouse.

John Campbell, the county director of facilities and operations, received approval from the commissioners at their Wednesday meeting for an expenditure of $11,115 to remove several 9-by-9-foot asbestos floor tiles in a few offices on the original courthouse's first floor and beside the elevator on the second floor.

Campbell said when the clerk of courts office moved a few months ago across Jackson Street to the commissioners meeting room in the county government building, a request was made for new carpeting in the old office in the courthouse.

The asbestos tiles were discovered upon removal of the old carpeting.

The contractor's cost proposal states that less than 1,300 square feet of asbestos tile will be removed from the courthouse for $8,121, and decontamination and negative air systems will be set up for $2,887.

The clerk of courts office was moved to the county government building so mold remediation could be completed in a handful of areas in the courthouse.

Campbell said a few employees must be relocated before work can start on the asbestos.

The section of courthouse containing the asbestos tiles was built in 1907.

Campbell also received the commissioners' approval for repair and relocation of a leaking boiler line for $3,000 and changing the door handles in the newly upgraded section of the government building annex to panic hardware, an emergency feature.

The panic hardware, which will cost $3,817, is required by state building codes.

Campbell also received approval for a five-year contract with Johnson Controls for climate control in the county prison. The cost will be $6,808 for the first year.

The contract is contingent upon the approval of the county prison board of directors.