Norman City Council puts mold problem on hold (Oklahoma)

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ECAB puts mold on hold

11/21/02

Tom Blakey

The Environmental Control Advisory Board Monday, after another two hours of

commentary and discussion concerning toxic mold, decided to wait until their

Dec. 18 meeting to formulate recommendations in a letter to the Norman City

Council.

" I need time to digest what we've heard, " said ECAB member at the

end of Monday's mold discussion, which included presentations by five

outside speakers: local real estate broker Nick Henson; Barnett,

president of Quantum Labs in Oklahoma City; property owner and investor

Ralph Bowers; environmental architect on; landlord and property

owner Will Mattoon; and Randy of Indoor Air Diagnostics.

It was ECAB's third monthly meeting with mold as the principle topic of

discussion. Norman resident Larkin had asked ECAB to take up the mold

discussion after members of her family experienced health problems due to

their exposure to mold in a Norman rental apartment.

" Our charge is to determine what else the city can be doing to detect and

alleviate mold, " said ECAB chair Walter Kelley.

Kelley said the board could agree on certain facts, that " mold can be a

serious environmental hazard, " " city code covers mold as a health nuisance "

and " the city is not equipped to determine whether mold is toxic. "

Kelley suggested ECAB consider making information concerning mold available

to tenants and landlords, and recommending the purchase of a boroscope and

moisture meter for use by city inspectors.

Henson, a Norman commercial real estate broker, expressed concern too much

blame was being placed on the property owners for mold presence.

The owner is at risk if tenants fail to disclose water leaks and/or mold

outbreaks, Henson said. The problem then grows worse and the tenant claims

an environmental hazard, seeking relief from their lease, suing for medical

concerns and relocating. The owner must remediate the problem at substantial

cost, may not be able to insure the property, has to disclose the mold prior

to selling the home and the property is devalued. Ultimately, the cost is

passed on to the tenant, Henson said.

By establishing guidelines at the municipal level, Henson warned of higher

insurance rates and devalued properties.

Larkin told board members the water leak behind the walls of her apartment

originated in 1993, " and we weren't aware of it until June. "

" The solution needs to be tenants and landlords working together, " she said.

" Prevention is the key. "

The mold problem is so new, " no one knows what they're talking about, "

Barnett told the board. " Some people get crazy over what's going on. If

there's mold in the bathroom, get some Tilex and clean it up. "

Bowers said he purchased a home four weeks ago, before finding out about a

3-inch spot of mold from the " termite man. " He later discovered eradicating

the mold would " cost 25 percent of what the house cost. " Bowers was able to

back out of the purchase, but suggested ECAB members consider the

" disclosure " of mold as a recommendation.

Mattoon, who on two occasions has dealt with the presence of mold in units

he owns, said: " Education is one of the keys. "

One case was due to a broken pipe and the other to a " 3-foot pile of clothes

in the closet, " he said.

Prevention " requires proper housekeeping techniques, " Mattoon said.

cautioned the board concerning mold experts, saying a man who was in

the porn industry two years ago, organized a conference in Oklahoma City

last May, charging 150 participants $1,300 apiece and certifying them as

" remediation supervisors. "

" You do the math, " he said.

suggested city leaders band with Stillwater and other university town

councils in forming an education program for students, " who could have water

running on the floor and may not care. "

" Education is cheaper than litigation, " he said.

Reporter Tom Blakey covers city government and can be reached at 366-3540 or

via e-mail at tblakey@....