Courthouse has mold
Staff reporter
A report from American Metropolitan Environmental, Inc. was presented Friday to Marion County Commission regarding significant mold present in the courthouse, particularly in the basement.
Following a 15-minute executive session between county appraiser Cindy Magill, county attorney Susan Robson, county clerk Carol Maggard, and the commission, the commission approved the release of information regarding the mold situation.
Here are the findings of the report:
— In a southwest office of the county engineer's department, there was visible fungal growth observed on wood wall paneling behind base trim along a south and west wall.
The wood paneling was measured to be wet six inches from the floor.
A wood book shelf was decayed with fungal growth, and had elevated moisture levels.
Fungal growth also was observed on surfaces of the metal supply registers which usually only occurs when condensation has formed on the supply registers.
— A strong, musty odor, which is associated with fungal growth and/or moisture accumulation, was observed by consultants in a northwest mapping room, also located in the basement.
There was visible fungal growth observed on surfaces of painted wall paneling behind a wood base trim along the north wall.
Wall paneling along a north wall from the northeast corner to the edge of metal cabinets was determined to be wet one foot from the floor.
Moisture infiltration had occurred through the building's foundation and dampened the paneling enough to allow fungi to proliferate.
— There was visible fungal growth approximately one foot from the floor observed on an east Sheetrock/drywall wall that leads into the elevator motor room.
A strong ozone odor was observed in the custodial room that appeared to have originated from the elevator motor in the adjacent room.
— An inspection of the attic indicated previous and ongoing leaks in the roof.
There were visible gaps in exterior rock and around windows in the gables or peaks of the roof.
Recent repairs had been made to the roof (new shingles, additional valley flashings, etc.) to prevent further moisture intrustion. However, there has been visible moisture intrusion through the roof that has stained some suspended ceiling tiles on the third floor.
Visible white fungal growth was noted on the roof trusses and roof decking.
— Fungal growths also were noted in the basement hallway, men's restroom, and basement storage closet.
Conditions that cause mold
Conditions which indoor mold growth can occur include:
— Historical flooding without proper cleaning.
— Moisture intrusion through sub-flooring or walls.
— Rainfall entering through leaky roofs.
— Plumbing or water line leaks.
— Toilet overflow or sewer backups.
— Moisture condensation within heating and air conditioning systems.
— Persistent elevated relative humidity above 62 percent and inadequate housekeeping.
Mold colonize most readily when air disturbance is minimal. For this reason, mold colonization occurs most frequently in closed or concealed spaces such as closets, storerooms, basements, refrigeration units, or on the back or underside surface of furniture.
Fungi can cause discoloration of materials, odor problems, deteriorate building materials, and lead to allergic reactions in susceptible individuals and other health problems.
Recommendations
Following are some of the recommendations made by the consultant:
— A licensed window contractor should examine all windows and perform necessary repairs such as caulking and weather stripping, and window replacement.
— All water stained suspended ceiling tiles should be removed, discarded, and replaced with new.
— Dehumidifiers should operate in the basement on a constant basis to maintain the relative humidity levels below 60 percent and above 30 percent.
— All supply registers in the entire basement should be removed and cleaned.
— Paneling, Sheetrock, and drywall should be removed, a licensed basement and foundation contractor should examine the entire foundation of the property and perform necessary repairs to prevent further water intrusion from occurring.
— Contents affected by the mold should be removed and cleaned. All surfaces should be cleaned appropriately to remove all fungal growth.
— At the completion of all remedial activities, the heating and air conditioning units and ductwork should be professionally cleaned.
At a previous meeting, the commission had instructed Maggard to solicit bids for the project to clean up the affected areas.
