Mansion mold tab a costly headache

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Mansion mold tab a costly headache

BY CLAY BARBOUR

Of The Post and Courier Staff

COLUMBIA--The mold that caused a year's worth of headaches, sinus

problems and mysterious illnesses now is causing empty wallet

syndrome.

Officials with the State Budget and Control Board announced Tuesday

that repairs at the Governor's Mansion and its two outlying houses

will cost the state slightly more than $1 million.

Earlier estimates had been as low as $30,000. But Risk Tech LLC, the

ton-based company hired to fix the problem, put the cost of

repairs in the mansion alone at about $550,000. The Lace, Boylston

and pool houses will cost another $502,360.

The board voted Tuesday to hire the ton law firm of Young,

Clement and Rivers, in case any of the repairs to the mansion can be

traced back to a mistake made by contractors.

" Obviously mistakes were made and fingers will be pointed, " said Gov.

Mark Sanford's spokesman, Will Folks.Gov. Mark Sanford's spokesman,

Will Folks.

In 2000, the mansion underwent a massive $7 million overhaul, which

expanded the historic building to more than 16,000 square feet and

mixed old world with new -- allowing the elaborate moldings and fancy

mantels to complement the new elevators, kitchen and heating and air-

conditioning units.

First lady Sanford first reported the mold problem to Budget

and Control last August, after members of her family and staff began

suffering from various ailments.

The problem chased the first family from its home in June. Earlier

this month, Risk Tech officials uncovered two different types of

airborne mold in the mansion -- aspergillus and penicillium -- as

well as a large amount of cladosporium in the ventilation system.

They also found mold in the Lace and Boylston houses.

Mike Sponhour, Budget and Control Board spokesman, said if

contractors can prove something was done incorrectly during the

installation process, the state would go after the guilty party.

The state, however, would be eligible to make up only the money being

spent on the mansion itself. Problems in the Lace and Boylston

houses, though also dealing with mold, are not directly related to

the problems in the mansion.

Money for the repairs will come out of the state's Depreciation

Reserve Fund, which has about $5 million set aside to deal with

maintenance issues. Sponhour also said the state has $130,000 from a

grant that can be used toward the repairs and could apply for a

$500,000 federal energy loan, since the repairs will make the mansion

more efficient.

When in Columbia, the governor is bedding down in the mansion pool

house. His family has remained behind, at the family's Sullivan's

Island home. Preparations have been taken to move the entire family

into the pool house if school starts before the repairs are completed.

The mansion is expected to reopen Sept. 1. School starts in August.

Clay Barbour covers the Statehouse. Contact him at (803) 799-9051 or

at cbarbour@....