Video - Mold is a Growing Problem at County Building

February 17, 2007

Mold is a Growing Problem at County Building

Friday February 16, 2007 7:14pm Reporter: Rupp Posted

KATV - Little Rock,AR

By: Munsell

Little Rock - There is a growing problem at the Pulaski County

Juvenile Justice Center, and it's making employees sick.

The county has 60 days to come up with a plan to fix the problem.

Earlier this week the Department of Labor notified Pulaski County

that the building tested positive for toxic mold, sending

administrators scrambling to fix the situation.

The 63-year-old building is an old county hospital, but some working

inside say it's the building that's sick.

Evidence of mold is due in part to a leaky roof that allows water to

seep into break rooms and offices. Poor ventilation and bad ducts

add to the problem.

Attorney Dorcy Corbin says some healthy employees are now

experiencing everything from allergic reactions to more serious

illnesses.

(Dorcy Corbin, Defense Attorney) " Multiple sclerosis which is linked

to mold, endometriosis, there's many more serious, including

tumors. "

Molds are found virtually everywhere, indoors and out. They grow in

warm, humid conditions, and when mold is discovered it should be

cleaned up, and the water problem fixed.

Coming up with the money to make repairs is a problem that will soon

face the Quorum court.

(Judge Buddy Villines, Pulaski County) " Is everybody going to get

sick if they come to this building? Absolutely not, but there's an

issue there and we're going to fix it. "

Judge Villines says there are some immediate steps they will take to

correct the issue while looking at long term solutions.

The building opened in 1943. It became the district and juvenile

justice building in 1992.

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