Courthouse basement teeming with black mold

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Courthouse basement teeming with black mold

Mcalester News Capital - Mcalester,OK*

By Beaty

Senior Editor

http://mcalesternews.com/cnhi/mcalesternews/homepage/local_story_0441

12942.html?keyword=leadpicturestory

Asbestos is not the only problem in the Pittsburg County Courthouse.

Black mold is growing in the basement of the Pittsburg County

Courthouse, where so much water seeps through the floors and walls

that a pumping system has been installed to keep it from flooding.

Inside the courthouse basement, the black mold — which is considered

by federal and state health officials to be a major health hazard —

appears to be everywhere.

It's growing on the floor.

It's creeping up the walls.

It's encircling pipes and poles.

The News-Capital asked about the mold after asking to see duct and

piping in the courthouse basement which have been identified as

containing asbestos in a report given to the county commissioners.

Carl on, head of courthouse maintenance, said the mold has

been growing for at least the entire eight years he's worked at the

courthouse.

" There's a natural spring back here, " on said. " It stays wet

year-round. "

Still, it's uncertain where the source of the never-ending stream of

water originates — from a natural spring or from leaky water pipes.

on said that as far as he knows, the water has never been

tested to see if it contains chlorine — which would indicate whether

it was treated or not.

One thing's remained certain, though, according to some of those who

work at the courthouse. The flow of water contributing to the mold

has never stopped.

" Even during the drought, it was wet down here, " said Pittsburg

County Dep. Mike Wiggington, in charge of security at the courthouse.

A pole used to stir white paint is leaned against the basement wall,

its base in the ever-present water on the basement floor. The mold

has already climbed several feet high on it, obliterating the white

paint beneath the mold's black surface.

Although some of the courthouse offices are empty for planned

renovations of the building, others are still filled with workers.

First floor offices include the Pittsburg County Election Board

office, the courtroom of Special Judge Donnita Wynn, court

reporter's offices and on's office.

The second floor includes the offices of District Judge

Bartheld, Associate District Judge Bland, Special Judge Bill

Laymen and Court Clerk Eller.

The third floor houses the offices of District 18 District Attorney

Jim Bob .

What's uncertain at this point is how workers contracted to conduct

the planned courthouse renovation will react when they enter the

basement and encounter the black mold.

While the asbestos found in the floor tile and some of the duct and

piping in the courthouse has presented a problem, presence of the

black mold brings problems of its own.

" Once you remove asbestos, it's gone, " on said. " If you remove

black mold, as long as it's wet down here, it'll come back. "

Contact Beaty at jbeaty@....