Mold pushes Kalama police to seek temporary headquarters

August 8, 2008

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Longview Daily News - Longview,WA*

By Leila Summers

34518.txt

KALAMA — A mold infestation at the Kalama Police Station has city

officials ready to move the department into a modular building near

the Port of Kalama marina.

By a 2-1 vote (two councilmen were absent from Wednesday's City

Council meeting), the council agreed the current facility is

uninhabitable. Councilman Dominic Ciancibelli, who cast the " no "

vote, favored a temporary modular in downtown.

" I'm for a modular but not moving it so far out of town, " he said at

Wednesday's meeting.

It's expected to take at least 45 days before the move will begin,

said Kalama Police Chief Bruce Hall.

During that time, Hall said he needs to finalize security on the

modular the city plans to lease. He also needs to arrange for water

and sewer hookups.

The current facility downtown has mold growing above the ceiling

tiles and in the cinder block shell, Hall said.

" The smell is pretty bad, " Hall said, and has prompted the

continuous use of an air purifier.

The city already owns the lot — located by the wastewater treatment

plant and grassy waterfront park — where officials plan to place the

temporary modular. It could take a couple of years before a

permanent location is found, city officials said.

Hall said the building is expected to cost $1,000 a month, in

addition to a one-time estimated cost of $5,500 for set up and

$4,000 for additional improvements such as installing phone lines

and sewer services to the building.

The department already set aside $20,000 in its budget for facility

needs, Hall said.

The chief agreed that moving the department out of the city's core

isn't ideal, but he believes the council is committed to a permanent

facility downtown, he said.

City officials aren't sure what will happen to the existing police

building, but it will likely need to be torn down.

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