Police center closed for mold

[Guest guest]

Police center closed for mold

By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer

Published December 24, 2006

St. sburg Times - St. sburg,FL

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/24/Neighborhoodtimes/Police_center_clo

sed_.shtml

PINELLAS PARK - The Police Department is shutting down for several

months because mold has infiltrated the structure's walls.

Most police functions will be scattered throughout other city

buildings while the department is being decontaminated.

The only workers who will remain in the station, 7700 59th St. N,

are those in the communications center.

The communications center is not contaminated and has its own air

supply so it can be sealed off from the rest of the building to

protect the workers, Pinellas Park police Chief Dorene said

during a meeting with city employees last week.

and other city officials stressed the decision to temporarily

close the building was " a cautionary move " and that the

contamination would in no way harm employees' health.

They were backed up by environmental experts and Dr.

, owner of Lakeside Occupational Medical Centers.

" We're trying to do everything right, " City Manager Mike Gustafson

said. " It's not because it's so dangerous that we have to take you

out. It's because it's the right thing. "

Another reason for the decision to close the department is

practical, he said. It would be hard for officers to work while

walls are taken out, carpet is being cleaned and replaced, and other

construction is ongoing.

told the officers and others who gathered in the City

Auditorium on Thursday: " What are the health risks? There are none.

Mold doesn't cause disease. ... It doesn't cause anything. Zero. "

The worst it can do, said, is cause some allergic reactions

in some people.

The symptoms would include stuffy nose and watery eyes but would go

away when the affected person left the building, he said.

Wolfgang Paltian, a forensic microscopist and chief executive of Air

Quality Environmental, seconded .

" Mold ... is everywhere. Without it, we wouldn't have beer and

cheese, right? " Paltian said.

City officials, they said, are being excessively cautious.

" If this were my home, I wouldn't do near the remediation they're

going to do, " said.

City officials have known for a time that the department roof

leaked.

But they fixed it this year as part of a $905,000 renovation of the

building, which was built in part in 1979 and added to in 1989.

While doing the renovations, they decided to test for mold and found

it in the wall cavities of many offices, mostly the outside ones on

the second floor.

Those include offices belonging to the chief and other high-level

department officials.

It is unclear how much the remediation will cost.

It is also unclear, Gustafson said, how long it will take.

He suggested the department's employees would be scattered in other

city buildings for at least two to three months.

Officers will begin moving Wednesday.

Police officers and other officials will be located in various city

buildings while the Police Department is purged of mold.

The department's administration, records, special services and

special operations will be in Park Station, 5851 Park Blvd. Criminal

investigations will be in the Adamek Building, 7780 60th St. N. Code

enforcement will be in the Technical Services Building, 6051 78th

Ave. N. Patrol officers will be in temporary modular buildings in

the lot north of the Police Department.

All phone numbers will remain the same. Citizens needing records or

to report problems should go to Park Station. Citizens can also

continue use the phone in front of the police station to be

connected with the communications center. For information, call 541-

0700.

[Guest guest]

Mold does nothing?????????????????????????????????????????

[Guest guest]

What turnip truck did the spokesperson fall off of? Mold causes watery itchy

eyes in affected individuals but goes away when they leave the building? Well

let's hope they caught the damage really early early before sinuses and lungs

and minds and skin became affected. I am glad they are spending a million

dollars of the taxpayer's money on " nothing " --sounds almost logical when

presented in the governmental business as usual manner!!! Jane Ann

Gingersnap1964@... wrote: Mold does

nothing?????????????????????????????????????????