City closes Finley Center: Asbestos, mold problems cited

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EXPANDED COVERAGE: City closes Finley Center: Asbestos, mold

problems cited

Chester News - SC

By tjenkins@...

http://www.onlinechester.com/articles/2007/06/13/headlines/news1.txt

Chester's new recreation director, Jack Sink, started work on Monday.

" It was a smooth first day, kind of laid back, " Sink said. " I think

day two will be a little more difficult. "

Sink, along with Chester's City Council received a jolt at Monday's

meeting. Harvey Danner Jr., with Salem Environmental, informed

council that the Finley Center, which serves as the headquarters of

the city's recreation department, is infected with black mold and

has friable asbestos in the ceiling. That information moved council

to close the building until further testing can be done.

Danner's company did swab and air tests of the building on January

24. While levels of mold and asbestos particulates were not at

levels of concern in the office and gymnasium, those in other parts

of the building were at elevated levels.

" Upon entering the building a very strong mold odor was detected by

all parties, " Danner's report states.

Danner's site inspection turned up cracks in the masonry along the

exterior wall of the gymnasium at the entry of the building and

slight separation of the raised concrete walkway from the building

which has allowed water onto the brick wall of the cafeteria below

on the first floor. The report states that stains and mold growth

are evident inside the building in this area.

Many rooms in the building feature flaking paint and boarded up

windows. The boards are molded as are many ceiling tiles. Piles of

debris and old carpet also contain mold.

A large hole was noted in the northeast part of the building and

water was actually dripping into the room as the inspection was

being conducted. Also on the first floor are spots where the roof

has collapsed, exposing piping that likely has friable asbestos

containing materials in the pipe insulation. The likely asbestos

actually contains mold.

In the upstairs hallway, much of which is not accessed by the

public, cladosporium spores were 10.5 times higher than a neutral

outdoor air sample.

In the downstairs, which is not accessed by the public, the presence

of penicillium/aspergillus spores were 12.5 times higher than the

outdoor sample. The cladosporium count was 58.8 times higher than

outside.

Stachybotrys chartarum was found in swab samples in various parts of

the building. Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as black mold, is

of the most concern, since it can produce saratoxins that can cause

serious illness and even death. Penicillium/aspergillus are potent

allergens for sensitive people. Cladosporium is a common outdoor

allergen related to vegetations. Danner said cladosporium would

likely only cause a reaction in people who are allergic to mushrooms.

Danner said asbestos was not his area of expertise, but he said it

was likely that the substance could splinter and infect the air.

He noted that most of the tests in the areas actually used by the

public and recreation department staff returned with favorable

results, though offending substances could eventually " migrate "

their way to those areas.

When asked by Councilwoman Betty Bagley whether lead paint was

present in the facility, Danner said " I'm sure there is. "

Danner was asked by Mayor Mitch whether he would recommend

that the building stay in use. After saying that was the city's

determination to make, he did say " I wouldn't let my 4year old

grandchild go in there. "

City Attorney April Counterman said that allowing people to continue

going into the building could make the city liable, were anyone to

get sick.

" I'm not comfortable with it, " Counterman said. " If there's even a

small possibility of a health risk, we should take precaution. "

With that, the council voted to close the Finley Center until

another set of tests can be done. Danner said he may be able to come

collect more samples by Friday. When Councilman Alan Clack asked if

nearby homes were safe, Danner assured him they would be.

In the meantime, the recreation department's base of operations will

be moved to the old youth/senior center on West End.

As for how to clean up the facility, Danner said there would likely

be no cheap way out. He said he wouldn't be able to work on the mold

until the asbestos was taken care of. That would call for the entire

ceiling coming out. Once the asbestos and mold was removed, repairs

was have to made to seal the holes and cracks in the building.

" Total cost, you could be talking almost a million dollars, " Danner

said.

The Finley Center formerly served as Chester's black high school,

and as a junior high school in the post-segregation era. The

building was closed in 1998 after Chester Park was constructed. The

school district leased the building to the city for 25 years in

2000. The city asked the district to fix the major hole in the roof

in November, but the district chose not to, saying none of its money

would be allocated to the building. There was some talk of the

building being deeded to the city, but that never occurred. The city

did ask contractors to submit bids on fixing the building, but also

never occurred.