Mold cleanup at Bibb traffic center might take half year

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Posted on Mon, Dec. 26, 2005

Bradenton Herald - FL

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/nation/13487259.htm

Mold cleanup at Bibb traffic center might take half year

By S. DuncanTELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER

A mold cleanup at the Bibb County traffic center may take much

longer than originally expected - perhaps up to six months, county

officials said.

The center, completed in 2002, has been plagued by mold problems

behind the wallpaper. Traffic center officials have said the mold,

which left a black, blossoming residue on large portions of some

walls, likely was caused by condensation.

State and city/county employees were relocated from the traffic

center in mid-November for what was originally estimated to be a

weeks-long period.

" I guess we didn't have enough information to know how long it was

going to be, " said Steve Layson, Bibb County chief administrative

officer.

Originally, the county planned to simply strip the wallpaper and

then seal the mold residue with a special type of paint. However, a

contractor who eyeballed the job suggested the wall might have to be

replaced, Layson said.

At that point, the county hired a Marietta science-based firm called

Air Quality Services to identify the type of mold involved, test the

air for mold spores and eventually determine what caused the problem

and how best to clean it up. Layson said he expects a report from

the contractor by the second week in January.

Co-funded city/county employees have been working in the county's

engineering annex building around the corner, while state Department

of Transportation employees were relocated to an old mobile office

at Interstate 475.

Bill Wikle, head traffic engineer, said no employees have complained

of any health problems related to the mold.

However, the move out of the traffic center does interfere with

their productivity. " Without access to the cameras and equipment, it

makes it more difficult to do our job, " Wikle said.

The traffic center features a wall of video and computer mapping

screens that allows technicians to monitor traffic flow downtown and

on nearby interstates, spotting accidents and adjusting stoplight

timing to improve traffic flow.

It remains unclear if the mold was caused by problems with the

center's design, construction or heating and air-conditioning

system, Layson said. The county is working closely with the

construction contractor and architect, he said.

The traffic management center cost the county $3.5 million for the

facility and equipment, funded through the city-county roads

program's 1-cent sales tax.

After a report of mold problems in the main day-care center run by

the Macon-Bibb County Department of Family and Children Services,

DFACS Director Marjorie Almand said she was unaware of any mold

there. She said she thought past problems with standing water

beneath the building had been corrected.

But after a Telegraph inquiry, Almand contacted several private

contractors, the Macon-Bibb County Health Department and Macon's

department of inspections and fees, trying to find someone to

inspect for mold.

" We're going to get it checked as soon as we can, " Almand said. " I

take it very seriously. "

The Bibb County Board of Education, which runs a teen program in the

same building, installed a drainage system beneath the building last

year, said Len Hindsman, assistant superintendent for operations.

As a mobile unit, the building stands two or three feet off the

ground, so the water beneath it was not actually inside, and he has

not heard of any mold problems, he said.

" Real mold problems are very few and far between, " said Hindsman,

who has a biology background.

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To contact S. Duncan, call (478) 744-4225 or e-mail

hduncan@...