Black Mold case closed

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Black Mold case closed

Batesville Daily Guard - Batesville,AR*

By Tony McGuffey Guard Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, March 27, 2008

http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/44650

With sore throats, burning eyes and difficulty breathing becoming a

daily discomfort at work, Independence County sheriff's

investigators were relocated.

Lt. Bittle, head of the Independence County Sheriff's Office

Criminal Investigations Division, said that for the last few weeks

officers had started experiencing respiratory problems, but, only

when they came to work.

Fearing that toxic black mold might be involved, the health problems

were reported to county officials, and CID officers were moved from

the building on Myers Street Monday to temporary quarters at the

Independence County jail across town.

With computers set up on folding tables, and active files kept in

cardboard boxes, officers set up a cramped makeshift office in the

training room of the jail within a very short time, according to

Bittle.

" Sgt. (Rick) Shepphard and the folks here have been very

accommodating, " she said. " As soon as I called down here and asked

for space they got us set up with phone lines and Internet

connections right away. "

Bittle said it was difficult working under such conditions because

officers didn't have all the files and equipment they needed, but

said it was OK for short term use.

" I'm sure our presence here, as short as it has been, has been

inconvenient for them, " Bittle said. " They have things they need to

be using this room for but they are putting up with us anyway. We

really appreciate it. "

Independence County Judge Bill Hicks said Wednesday that

contractors, called in to inspect and deal with the problem, didn't

find the presence of black mold anywhere in the building.

Hicks said the contractors had cut several holes in the air ducts

over the last few days in their search for any culprit that might be

causing the health problems.

" They didn't find any mold, just a lot of dust, " he said. " They said

they found the typical 30-years-worth of dust in the building. "

Workers will be installing mold collectors in air ducts throughout

the building to test the air quality passing through them, according

to Chief Deputy Steve .

" The collectors will stay in place for a while and then be shipped

to a lab for testing to make sure there isn't any mold forming, " he

said.

The building, formerly used by the Department of Human Services, is

currently having its flat roof repaired for numerous leaks, a common

cause of mold and mildew that can collect in a building and

therefore affect a person's breathing.

Bowers said cleaning and re-assembly of air ducts should be

completed by today and the building should be ready for use again by

this weekend.