Mold found in Cortland court

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Mold found in Cortland court

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Tribune Chronicle - Warren,OH*

By CHRISTOPHER BOBBY and JOHN GOODALL Tribune Chronicle

http://www.tribune-chronicle.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=20331

CORTLAND — Central District Court operations temporarily were moved

Monday to Trumbull County Agriculture and Family Education Center

after mold was found in the court offices.

Central District Judge said the mold most likely was

the result of a leaky roof noticed in the structure about three

weeks ago.

He said after conferring with county Trumbull County Health

Department officials, Sylcom Inc. was brought in to run tests and

detected airborne spores. The judge said he knew of no illnesses

attributed to the mold.

Court proceedings temporarily were held Monday in Cortland City

Council chambers with contested cases continued on the court

schedule. After court, spoke with Eastern District Judge

Rice, who offered his courtroom to hear cases.

``After making some other calls, we found out our phone system

wasn't compatible with what they had in Brookfield,'' said.

County officials and decided to temporarily move to a large

meeting room in the agricultural center on 520 W. Main St. less than

a mile away from the court on 180 N. Mecca St.

``Everything is fine now. Phones and computers have been installed

and clerks are working now,'' said late Monday

afternoon. ``We have two lines with the same phone numbers rather

than the usual six or seven lines.''

He said he expects to work out of the center for the remainder of

the week while another firm performs a cleanup.

Lou Morocco of Morocco Services Inc., the company remediating the

mold, said he expects that work will proceed at least through

Friday. But that depends on what the company finds when it opens the

wall, he said.

``Basically, remediation is cleaning — a very meticulous cleaning,''

he said.

The problem apparently originated from one or more roof leaks.

County Auditor's Office records list the building as owned by former

county Administrator Carson Jr.

said, ``I spoke with Tony last Wednesday when we realized

this could be an issue. He has been very cooperative. I understand

this to be a landlord expense and it could be substantial.''

Morocco Services is removing damaged drywall and carpeting and will

clean the mold, its owner said.

County Health Commissioner Dr. Enyeart said the Health

Department recommended that the court have an evaluation of the

situation after the inspection found evidence of mold.

contacted him Friday and said the analysis determined that there was

mold contamination.

Without more information, Enyeart said he ordered that court

operations be moved to avoid the potential of a health hazard.

``I suggested the public not be exposed until it's better understood

or remediated, or both,'' the health commissioner said.

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