New report recommends closing Finley

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New report recommends closing Finley

Chester News - SC*

By tjenkins@...

http://www.onlinechester.com/articles/2007/06/26/headlines/breakingne

ws2.txt

The company handling the air quality test for the city of Chester's

recreation building is recommending that the structure remain

closed, at least for the time being. One city official says it

likely will.

In their June 11 meeting, Chester City Council heard a report from

Harvey Danner of Salem Environmental. Danner had been asked earlier

in the year by city officials to conduct air quality tests on the

S.L. Finley Center. His study turned up black mold and friable

asbestos among other potentially harmful substances.

On the advise of City Attorney April Counterman, the city voted to

temporarily close the Finley Center for liability reasons, pending

another study, and moved recreation personnel to the youth/senior

center on West End.

Danner delivered a new report to the city, with much the same result

found as before. According to the report:

*A very strong, musty fungal odor is still present in the downstairs

auditorium (a former cafeteria); a lighter musty odor is in the

storage room on the second floor.

*Concentrations of Penicillium/Aspergillus spores have increased

relative to the increase in outdoor spores in the two offices and

the gymnasium. The gym count from January has mushroomed by 2,300

percent while the outdoor only increased by 371 percent (outdoor

samples are used as a baseline for indoor testing). The same applies

to the storage room next to the main office, where a 2,289 percent

jump occurred (from January). Numbers in the office also increased,

but at a lesser rate of 832 percent.

According to Danner's findings, excessive moisture is causing

Penicillium/Aspergillus to grow at a higher rate.

Danner's report states that " individuals with allergies, especially

children and the elderly, could be affected by the elevated spore

counts. City and/or county health officials should review the data

and come to a conclusion about future use of the facility. "

Danner recommends that there be no activity in the building except

by essential personnel, and that they should wear NIOSH N95 rates

masks when in the building for extended periods of time if they

suspect any allergies to Penicillium/Aspergillus molds.

The elevated level of spores was not found to be present in the

former band room of the building, which the police department uses.

When he detailed his January findings, Danner told the council that

Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold) was present in the building, but

not in the area currently being used. His latest test re-confirmed

his earlier findings.

Danner previously told council that before he could even begin to

remove the mold someone would have to come in and remove the

asbestos, which is not his area of expertise. To prevent a

recurrence of various molds and spores, several repairs would have

to be made to the building, including repair of several holes in the

roof. He estimated that repairs could cost up to $1 million.

City council has a special called meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. to

discuss the latest findings. City administrator Mobley said he

did not want to speculate on what might happen.

" That will be council's decision, so I would rather not speculate, "

Mobley said.

Mayor Mitch said he didn't want to speculate what the council

would do in the long-term either, though he was certain the building

would stay closed in the foreseeable future.

" The spores counts have increased significantly, especially in the

gymnasium, " said. " I could not, in good conscience, allow

children, or our employees to go in there. "

said he may appoint a committee to look into what to do with

the building in the future. He said he hoped that grant money could

be obtained to help with some of the problems. Still, he said fixing

the building would take a lot of money, saying Danner's $1 million

estimate might be a bit low.

" I've heard estimates on a new roof at around $400,000, "

said. " It could be a half million to remove the asbestos. That's not

even taking into consideration the mold and other structural

problems that would have to be fixed. "

The building is actually owned by the school district, but is being

leased by the city. When discussion of roof repair was brought up

early this year, school district officials dismissed the idea of

putting any money into the building.