Meeting set to review courthouse mold

[Guest guest]

Meeting set to review courthouse mold

Comments 1 | Recommend 0

November 12, 2008 - 12:18AM

By FERNANDO DEL VALLE/Valley Morning Star

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/county_38959___article.html/mol

d_project.html

RAYMONDVILLE - A Texas Historical Commission official will meet this

week with acting Willacy County Judge Emilio Vera as the county

plans to respond to a state report that found mold in the 86-year-

old courthouse.

Architect Sharon Fleming said the agency could offer grant money to

help the county fund a project to remove mold from the historic

building.

But the county has not taken steps to become eligible for funding,

Fleming said.

More than a year after a state inspection warned of a health threat,

employees continue to complain about illness they fear could be

caused by mold.

District Clerk Gilbert Lozano returned to work Monday after being

sick with headaches and respiratory problems since mid-October.

" After I walked in, I starting feeling my stomach get queasy so I

went back outside, " Lozano said. " My understanding is there's mold

all over the place. "

Three employees in Lozano's office have been ill with respiratory

problems since last month, they said.

At least three other employees, who asked that their names not be

used, said they believed their illnesses were likely caused by mold.

" Historically, the County Commission has done very little for

employees, " Lozano said. " They know (mold) is a health hazard but

they're not making it a number-one priority. "

County Commissioner Aurelio Guerra denied the accusation.

" We're always sensitive to anything that might affect our employees'

health, " Guerra said.

County officials continue to wait on their insurance company to

determine whether it will fund the project to remove mold, Guerra

said.

The county hired Houston attorney to assess damages,

he said.

Fleming said the county could be eligible for a state grant to help

fund the project, but it hasn't taken steps to hire an architect to

determine the scope of the project and its cost.

" It's certainly a candidate for our program, " she said. " I'm very

aware Willacy County is a county that could benefit from our grant

funds. "

Commissioner Eddie Chapa said officials were awaiting response from

the Historical Commission, the Texas Association of Counties and the

Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine whether they could

help fund the project.

Last month, commissioners approved a project to renovate two second-

floor restrooms that have been closed since Hurricane Dolly damaged

the building in July, officials said.

State inspectors found signs of mold in a second-floor restroom in

October 2007, a Texas Department of Health report said.

The renovation project will replace drywall in the restrooms, said

Chapa, who added officials didn't have a cost estimate.

After the hurricane caused roof damage, the county paid $69,000 to

hire a company to dry out the building, officials said.

" Water just seeped through the vent and worked its way in the

basement, " Chapa said.

Lozano said about a foot of water filled the basement.

Officials used pumps to drain the water, Chapa said.

An anonymous complaint led to the state's inspection in October

2007, a state report said. The inspection found high humidity levels

that can trigger mold growth, the report said.

" Emphasis should be on ensuring proper repairs of the building

infrastructure so that no water damage and moisture buildup occur, "

the report said.

The report recommended insulation of air conditioning lines to

prevent condensation.