Blanco's mansion: total cost for the mansion work to at least $800,000

[Guest guest]

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.

[Guest guest]

Florida still has some

very serious problems from last year and things only seem to be

getting worse.

I was watching an interview last nite with Ted Kopel & the governor

of Louisana, Kathleen Blanco. I pasted the whole article below

because I am not sure if the link still works, most of the time they

don't last too long. It's on the remediation of the governor's

mansion in LA and it was due to mold and other defects.

In the interview Blanco was very concerned about the bacteria,

chemicals, sewage and several other deposits that are going to be

found in these flooded streets. They even spoke briefly of what

these people are going to have to do to their homes upon returning.

All she had said was they may have to pull everything out of the

house, because of the contaminates and did not say one thing about

mold. Now you can't take the main supports (2x4's, etc.) out of the

house without the roof caving in, she said this only depended on

what materials were used. This is not going to work and she knows

better, because she is now suffering from mold exposure. If you

watch her speak, she is having a very difficult time with her

breathing, searching for words and seems to be clearing her throat

every minute or so.

I really don't understand what the problem is, why they are so

afraid to mention that four letter word, Mold. We have taught our

children about four letter words and it seems like the word mold is

nastier than the others.

The banking industry and insurance companies have just recently

released some research and finally have determined (what we have

been telling them all along) that remediation really doesn't work

and the best way to address this problem is through education and

prevention. But in order to do this, they are going to have to say

the word.

One of the governor's/congressmen need to step up to the plate real

soon to address this issue and the severity that surrounds it. I

think it sounds like a great time for Congressmen Conyer's office

and his associate Segal to visit the deviastated areas and

voice their concerns. Along with promoting the bill HR1269. Maybe

now we will be able to get some support and hopefully not at the

cost of more lives.

KC

--- In , " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2C@n...>

wrote:

> 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.