Costs of work on Gov's Mansion grows with additional renovations

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August 05. 2005 4:37PM

Costs of work on Gov's Mansion grows with additional renovations

The Associated Press

http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20050805/APN/508050967

As work crews try to get rid of asbestos and mold in the Gov.'s

Mansion, they are also doing additional renovations that are pushing

the state's total cost for the mansion work to at least $800,000.

The price tag for the mansion project has grown since initial

estimates were provided by the governor's office.

Original estimates pegged the work at about $525,000, but further

details - including the price tag for Gov. Kathleen Blanco's

temporary housing and the addition of the bathroom and dressing area

renovations - have driven the costs to about $805,000 so far. If the

work stretches into September, the costs will grow higher because of

rent and other monthly payments.

According to information provided by the governor's Division of

Administration:

-The cleaning and replacement of ducts and vents, the removal of

mold and asbestos and the replacement of the fire alarm system is

costing about $739,000.

-The temporary housing in Baton Rouge for Blanco and her husband at

a fully furnished 4,900-square-foot home, complete with swimming

pool, totals $5,000 a month for rent since June.

-Upgrades to the rental home, like the additions of phone lines,

high speed Internet data connections and security cameras have added

another $9,000 to the tally so far.

-And the latest additional work, completely gutting and renovating

Blanco's private bathroom and dressing room on the second floor of

the mansion adds another $41,500.

Former Gov. Mike refused to sign off on the duct work even

though black, flaky mold started falling out of the vents, and Maris

LeBlanc, executive counsel in Blanco's Division of Administration,

said also didn't approve the recommended renovations of the

bathroom.

None of that work has been done in the 42-year-old home's history,

officials said.

LeBlanc said Blanco requested a separate tub and shower in the

bathroom, and since the governor already was going to be out of the

mansion for the mold removal, the other renovations were added to

the list.

" It was aged and dated, and they were having difficulty - from a

buildings and grounds maintenance perspective - they were having

problems buying replacement parts, " LeBlanc said Friday of the

bathroom.

Work on the mansion project started July 5 and is projected to be

finished by late August or early September.