Air concerns close a Benton Co., WA assessor's office

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Air concerns close a Benton Co., WA assessor's office

Seattle Post Intelligencer*

January 1, 2008

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_assessors_air.html

KENNEWICK, Wash. -- Potentially unhealthy indoor air has prompted

the closure of the Benton County assessor's satellite office in

Kennewick, with the eight employees moving to the department's main

offices at the county courthouse in Prosser.

Assessor Barbara Wagner says she's closing the office for at least

two weeks. She says an air quality survey conducted at the satellite

office in the Benton County annex detected high levels of mold

spores in several offices, behind walls and inside the air ducts

that are supposed to provide fresh, healthy ventilation.

She adds that she's had employees who have used up all of their sick

leave with such problems as sinus and ear infections.

Benton County Commissioner Claude Oliver says a contractor has been

asked to evaluate the office.

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Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com