Money lacking for McMorran mold problem

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Money lacking for McMorran mold problem

Port Huron Times Herald - Port Huron,MI

By SHANNON MURPHY

http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20070506/NEWS01/705060318/1002

McMorran Place officials are going to have to find another way to

get rid of a mold problem in the pavilion.

About $375,000 was requested from the city of Port Huron's budget to

get rid of the mold and install a dehumidification system in the

pavilion to prevent mold from recurring.

However, because of budget cuts, the city did not include the

request in its 2007-08 budget, which begins in July, said City

Manager Karl Tomion.

The city owns and operates the McMorran complex through a council-

appointed authority.

McMorran Place General Manager Larry Krabach said he had not yet

seen if the request was included in the city budget, but understands

money is tight everywhere.

" We don't have it in our budget, " he said.

The mold, which is contained to the ceiling of the pavilion, is not

considered dangerous, Krabach said.

However, officials want to take care of it before it becomes a

problem.

" Obviously we're going to have to figure out how to do it at some

point in time, " Krabach said.

The pavilion typically is used in winter months by high school

hockey teams and the Port Huron Minor Hockey Association. In the

spring and summer it is used for trade shows, banquets and wedding

receptions.

Krabach said it's not uncommon for an ice arena to develop mold

problems because of humidity when the ice is in place.

Some options for fixing the problem include looking for another

funding source, such as a capital-improvement fund. McMorran does

not have a capital improvement fund, but does make renovations and

fix building problems with state grants when available.

Another option could be to put the ice in at a later date. Typically

it is put down in late August.

It is usually warm and humid when the ice is put in, which creates a

lot of the problems. Krabach suggested the ice could be installed in

November.

That, however, could pose a problem for hockey teams using the

pavilion for practices and games.

" Another option is we stay as we are doing now and hope we don't

have a larger build up, " Krabach said.

Officials have been working for three years to get the

dehumidification system, which costs about $250,000. Getting rid of

the current mold would cost about $120,000 more.

" We don't want to do one without the other because if we don't have

the system, it will just happen again, " Krabach said.

Krabach plans to go back to the McMorran Authority after the city

passes a budget to determine his next step.