BREAKING NEWS: City to put off second enviro-tests for Finley

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BREAKING NEWS: City to put off second enviro-tests for Finley

Chester News - SC*

Story posted Jul 09, 2007 - 20:55:18 EDT

By tjenkins@...

http://www.onlinechester.com/articles/2007/07/09/headlines/breakingne

ws2.txt

Chester City Councilman W. Caldwell suggested cleaning up the

S.L. Finley Center to remove air quality problems.

" Let's gas it, " Caldwell exclaimed during Monday's meeting of

council.

The city is forming a plan for how to deal with the high spore count

in the air at the recreation department headquarters. " Gassing it "

may be part of the plan, but a previously planned air quality test

will not be.

In early June, the council heard a report from Harver Danner of

Salem Environmental that indicated that black mold and friable

asbestos were present in the unused portions of the building, and

high counts of penicillium/aspergillus were evident in the usable

parts of the Finley building.

The test was conducted early in the year at the request of former

Recreation Director Linder.

The council closed the building for the safety of employees and the

public, shifting recreation department operations to the

department's building on West End.

A follow-up test was ordered, which showed the spore count in the

gym and office areas, both of which were used by city staff and

citizens, had jumped by 2,300 percent. The council decided to keep

the building closed, but also agreed at a special called meeting

more than a week ago to have a third test conducted, this one by a

company other than Salem Environmental.

Councilman Odell said the results " didn't satisfy " him, and

said having another company come in could give a clearer picture.

At Monday's regular meeting, said he had reconsidered his

position.

" I think the money for the additional testing would be more useful

if spent on clean-up of the building, " said.

Councilwoman Annie Reid said the properties committee decided it

would be in the best interest of everyone if the building stayed

closed temporarily.

" Due to the liabilites, we have to keep it closed, " Reid said. " But

we need to make inroads towards re-opening it. "

The council voted to rescind its vote for new tests by a second

company. The next step is still in the planning stages.

Mayor Mitch said he had contacted the S.C. Department of

Health and Environmental Control at the council's request to see if

there were existing guidelines for what levels of penicillium

andaspergillus were acceptable in a public building.

" They don't have any, " said. " They told me that the effect of

the spores is different on different people. "

said DHEC representatives told him one way of getting rid of

the spores is to fumigate the building.

" They enclose the entire building and use some type of gas on it, "

said.

That led to Caldwell's stating that " gassing it " should likely be

the next step. No vote was taken to go ahead with the gassing, but

council members indicated a plan would be completed for how to

proceed in the near future.

" We need to get the office and gym back in operation, " Reid

said. " Then we can decide what to do with the rest of the building. "

[Guest guest]

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Health Please.

Elvira

tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...> wrote:

BREAKING NEWS: City to put off second enviro-tests for Finley

Chester News - SC*

Story posted Jul 09, 2007 - 20:55:18 EDT

By tjenkins@...

http://www.onlinechester.com/articles/2007/07/09/headlines/breakingne

ws2.txt

Chester City Councilman W. Caldwell suggested cleaning up the

S.L. Finley Center to remove air quality problems.

" Let's gas it, " Caldwell exclaimed during Monday's meeting of

council.

The city is forming a plan for how to deal with the high spore count

in the air at the recreation department headquarters. " Gassing it "

may be part of the plan, but a previously planned air quality test

will not be.