Update - Mold tests vanish into thin air at courthouse

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Mold tests vanish into thin air at courthouse

Mcalester News Capital - Mcalester,OK*

By Beaty

Senior Editor

http://www.mcalesternews.com/local/local_story_064105740.html

For the past few weeks, District 3 Pittsburg County Commissioner

Randy Crone has been saying someone will travel to McAlester to take

air samples at the Pittsburg County Courthouse.

It hasn't happened yet.

When asked about the matter, Crone initially attributed some of the

delays to his need to get more information to a company called Earth

Tech, which he said will do the testing.

During the commissioners' meeting last week as the Economic

Development Association, Crone had said he expected the air samples

to be taken in the next few days,

When asked at that time on what day the samples would be taken,

Crone said he didn't have that information yet.

On Monday, when the commissioners met again as the ADA, the News-

Capital asked if the air samples had been taken at the county

courthouse last week, as planned.

Crone was also reminded that the matter had been tabled from a

previous meeting.

Crone acknowledged that the samples weren't taken last week, after

all.

When the News-Capital inquired about the reason, Crone said that

Earth Tech, hadn't actually " promised " to do the test last week.

So has Crone got a " promise " the samples would be taken this week?

" The last contact he said he'd try to get here this week, " Crone

said, saying he had been in contact with Daryl Lessin, of Earth

Tech, which has an office in Tulsa.

The News-Capital revealed in an article last month that black-

colored mold is growing in the courthouse basement.

Commissioners said that previous testing by Earth Tech had revealed

the presence of asbestos in tiles in the courthouse, as well as in

piping and duct in the basement— which continuously has a stream of

water running through it.

Meanwhile, county and state officials, along with their employees,

continue to work at the courthouse, as well as those who go to the

courthouse to conduct official business. That includes jurors who

continue to hear cases in district court.

Offices still housed in the courthouse include the Pittsburg County

Election Board office and the courthouse maintenance office.

The Pittsburg County court clerk's office, the district court

judicial offices and courtrooms and the District 18 district

attorney's offices are also still housed in the courthouse.

Other county offices — including the commissioners' offices — have

been out of the courthouse for months so renovations can be

conducted at the courthouse.

Commissioners are currently waiting on renovations to the Premier

Property building, which is across the street from the courthouse,

to be completed before the other courthouse offices are moved.