3rd cleaning goes after airborne mold

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3rd cleaning goes after airborne mold

Westland Observer*

By Darrell Clem • OBSERVER STAFF WRITER • August 28, 2008

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Airborne mold spores have been found in widespread locations on the

first and second floors of Westland City Hall after migrating

through the building's ventilation system from a leaky basement,

environmental experts confirmed Tuesday.

But property-restoration work crews over the weekend embarked on a

third round of cleaning that city officials believe has made the

aging building safer, and no closing of City Hall has been deemed

necessary.

" I think we've taken care of the problem at hand, " Mayor

Wild said Tuesday.

Still, Wild conceded that city leaders will face difficult and

potentially costly decisions when they engage in talks this fall

about City Hall, built in the mid-1960s, and other municipal

buildings.

" We'll be having some long, hard discussions on where we go from

here on City Hall, " the mayor said.

Nearly 40 people work in City Hall, on Ford Road east of Newburgh,

and countless other residents and business representatives use it.

Some city employees have questioned whether environmental conditions

inside the building may have led to health problems like recurring

sinus infections, upper respiratory problems and headaches.

Air-quality tests conducted on Aug. 7 found 21 different kinds of

mold spores, including " nominal " or " very low " findings of fungus

and " minor to moderate " elevations of bacteria, said Jon Datillo,

president of I.A.Q. Management Services Inc., of Farmington Hills.

Many of the same findings occur outdoors, Datillo said. Still, he

acknowledged that spores of Stachybotrys, commonly referred to as

black mold, were found in several locations in the latest round of

air testing.

Wild's administration readily released the latest air-quality report

from Datillo on the same day it was received. Wild had pledged when

he took office last year to be candid, even on potentially sensitive

issues.

Datillo's report cited numerous findings of mold spores throughout

the building - though not at alarming levels - in places like the

mayor's office, the finance department, the city clerk's office, the

City Council meeting room, the personnel conference room and the

second-floor common area.

Some people have no reaction to mold spores, while others can have

mild to severe reactions, particularly those with health problems

like asthma, allergies, lung disease and immune-system issues,

according to health experts.

When asked if he personally would be comfortable working inside City

Hall, Datillo responded that he would. However, he refrained from

issuing a blanket statement for employees inside the building,

saying he would " defer to a physician " on whether City Hall is safe

or unsafe for specific people.

Datillo confirmed that " we did not find significant elevations " of

mold spores, either fungal or bacterial. Moreover, he cautioned

against being unduly alarmed by the mere finding of so-called black

mold.

Wild's administration ordered the first and second floors of City

Hall examined after widespread basement flooding in July led to

findings of mold. Already, the city has spent an estimated $55,000

to $60,000 to address the problem, and the full price tag isn't yet

known.

Datillo confirmed that the latest tests on City Hall's first and

second floors focused on airborne mold spores and not actual mold

growth, which was earlier found in the basement.

Weaver, a representative for Livonia-based Belfor, which

cleaned the building, said his team of workers used cleansers like

antimicrobial agents and focused on removing mold spores from places

like walls, desks and horizontal surfaces. Workers also cleaned the

carpet on the first and second floors, and the building's air ducts

have twice been sanitized.

Datillo indicated that " nearly all " of the air-quality issues are

now likely mitigated, although he and Weaver said further testing at

some point might be prudent as a safety precaution.

McCurtis, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Community

Health, said Wednesday afternoon the state has no jurisdiction in

the matter, but he added that " it sounds like the city did exactly

the right thing. That's exactly what we would recommend. "

McCurtis said the city should next address the issue of how to

properly seal the basement to keep water - and mold - out. He

said " it doesn't sound like an emergency situation " that would

warrant the evacuation of City Hall.

City leaders, including Wild and Westland City Council President

Godbout, have conceded they will need to find a long-term

solution. Godbout said the city has responded " quickly and

responsibly " to address the situation.

" We're taking care of it, " Godbout said. " We're not trying to hide

anything. "

dclem@... | (734) 953-2110