PTC still working on messy problem at police station

[Guest guest]

Monday, January 22, 2007 - 11:28 AM

By Morley

cindy@...

Fayette Daily News - Fayetteville,GA

http://www.fayettedailynews.com/index.php?

name=News & file=article & sid=462

The tests results are all coming back the same...

There's still water in the Peachtree City Police Department,

and there's still no clear indication of where it's coming from.

" We've had a number of additional tests performed to see what's

going on, but we're getting no clear answers " said Bernie McMullen,

Peachtree City City Manager.

The city's police department was constructed in 2001, and the

water began appearing on the floors shortly after police moved into

the new building, according to officials.

The building was constructed on land formerly used as a dump.

In an earlier interview, Capt. Stan Pye said officers moved

into the new building in May 2001, and began having problems in the

summer.

At that time, he said, " It began in the booking room. The floor

started bubbling, and then carpet started pulling loose. Inside we

have warped boards, mold on the walls, tables and ceilings, and

outside we have mold under the awnings, water stains on the brick

walls, and stucco peeling away. Law books inside one office had

to be replaced because of the moisture. "

Today, city officials are still looking for answers.

Their next step, McMullen says, is to begin the process of

collecting floor core test samples.

" This is needed to determine if there is a chemical reaction

with the floor covering and the concrete floors that might be

causing the bubbling, " said McMullen.

" And we have mechanical engineers trying to validate the size

of the equipment installed in the building, to see if the equipment

is sufficient to handle to humidity control in the building. "

Inconclusive test results have halted expansion work at the

police department. Money was approved in the current budget to allow

for expansion of the evidence room and expansion of the employee

parking lot behind the building.

" We're at a standstill right now with that, " said Peachtree

City Police Chief Jim Murray.

" We can't move forward with that work until the water situation

is handled, and that causes a problem because our evidence room is

nearly at capacity.

" We don't want to move ahead with anything that might have to

be torn up later. "

McMullen said he hopes to be able to have some answers soon.

" We're in the process of getting quotes from two firms so can

be move ahead with the next phase of testing, " said McMullen.

" It's frustrating because all normal solutions haven't panned

out. "

High levels of humidity and mold have been major problems in

the building, according to officials, and have been a major issue of

concern with Chief Murray.

A study in July showed " the Peachtree City Police Department

has elevated relative humidity, which has caused mold growth, wall

damage and other problems...

" Conduct additional testing to determine the source/nature of

the groundwater beneath the building... "

That report was issued after samples were taken by Eagle Indoor

Air forwarded to the Environmental Science Corp for testing.

According to city officials, the samples were taken from seven

different sections inside the Police Department headquarters on Hwy

74 South.

Another air sample was taken outside the building as a baseline

for comparison.

At that time, the city issued a press release that said test

results indicated that total mold spores present inside the building

ranged from a low count of 253 to a high count of 2,507 among the

seven samples. The total mold spore count outside the building was

16,399, according to the report.

In the report summary by Eagle Indoor Air, it was stated

that " while ambient air sampling did not indicate particularly high

levels of airborne mold spores, mold is present inside the building.

" The humidity must be brought under control in order to prevent

more mold growth in the future. "

The report stated that the moisture problem is probably due to

groundwater seeping into the building. " It is possible that the old

landfill near the building has trapped a large amount of moisture.

The moisture could now be seeping into the building. "

The study also found that ceiling tiles were bowed or warped in

the building, carpet tiles were " easily peeled from the concrete

floor, " and that the epoxy coating on the slab floor in the rear of

the building had several water 'bubbles'.

The report also stated that " some liquid water could be seen on

the floor in these areas. "

Among the findings, it was also reported that the bottom of the

concrete slab appeared to be wet, and that " some rooms inside the

police department have a relative humidity of 80 percent. "

The report included recommendations, such as " additional

testing to determine the nature/source of the groundwater beneath

the building " and to " monitor the humidity inside the building.

Ideally, indoor relative humidity should remain between 35 percent

and 50 percent. "