Cherokee sues over leaky fire stations

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Cherokee sues over leaky fire stations

By CLINT WILLIAMS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 10/25/05

Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/1005/25cherosuit.html

Five Cherokee County fire stations have leaky roofs and county

commissioners have filed a lawsuit to get them fixed.

The county filed a suit against M.G. Patton Construction Co. and a

lengthy list of subcontractors, charging that improper design and

poor workmanship are responsible for mold contamination and other

damage to the buildings.

The county is asking for money to repair the buildings and to repay

money spent by the county resulting from the damage.

There is no price tag on the damages, said County Attorney Mark

Mahler, " because we're still in the process of determining what the

damages are. "

The five stations were built by Patton between the spring of 2000

and January 2002.

One of the five fire stations — Fire Station 21 near Ball Ground in

the northeast corner of the county — was abandoned by firefighters

in May. Firefighters moved out of the mold-plagued fire station to

allow crews to knock out a bathroom wall to remove mold. Repairs

have yet to be completed on the building.

By filing the lawsuit, the county joins a group of firefighters

taking legal action against the contractor.

Firefighters have complained that mold at Station 21, Station 4 in

Free Home and Station 12 in Waleska is causing serious health

problems in people assigned to those stations. More than 40

firefighters are plaintiffs in a $60 million lawsuit filed in

February 2004 against the company. The suit accuses M.G. Patton

Construction Co. of poor construction practices that allowed mold to

contaminate the buildings.

Each of the $1.2 million multi-purpose buildings include a fire

station, community meeting room and sheriff's department office.

It may take as much as $300,000 to $400,000 to repair each building,

said Cherokee County Commissioner Jim Hubbard.

The air-conditioning system of each building is inadequate, Hubbard

said, allowing high indoor humidity that encourages the growth of

mold.

Fama, the attorney representing Patton Construction,

declined to comment Tuesday because he hadn't seen the lawsuit.