Mold infests Hall

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Mold infests Hall

Annika Sjolie

Issue date: 3/23/09 Section: News

http://media.www.universitychronicle.com/media/storage/paper231/news/2009/03/23/\

News/Mold-Infests..Hall-3679167.shtml

Mold is a fungus often found deep in the back of one's refrigerator thriving

upon outdated items. It is also the fungus that currently inhabits the basement

of Hall.

However, this is not a new discovery. According to Jim Gray, director of

operations at KVSC, a sewage backup from the Mississippi River over three years

ago caused the mold growth. There was a plug in the city waste lines, which has

since been repaired.

" Only the Chronicle office and the photo lab are clean, " Gray said. " Whereas the

key areas affected are room 18, the UTVS and the KVSC studios. "

This issue was dealt with on a temporary basis the first time a backup occurred,

and a more significant repair took place the second time.

" New lines were put in under the river and carpet cleaners came in. We found out

that mold had started growing from the first backup, but this time it appeared

everything had been fixed correctly, " Gray said.

Still, a third backup took place in April 2008, and the musty smell from the

mold was a problem.

" We've had DJs, work study and professors getting sick down here from the

smell, " Gray said. " Sometimes with the flu, or just headaches that don't go

away. "

Last summer Gray took initiative and wrote a letter of complaint to a number of

people, which was picked up by the St. Cloud Times and printed.

The next day the maintenance department at SCSU came down ready to help. As the

carpets were removed, things got worse. The mold was living in the glue adhesive

of the carpet and was now exposed.

" I raised a stink about the stink, " Gray said. " And about two months ago,

Building Environmental Management Corporation was brought in to take a look. "

The corporation took both air and surface samples and was able to draw up a

report. They concluded that the damage is a Category 3 water loss, because of

the three sewage backflows.

" The fungal air sample collected in Room 18 did indicate there is active fungal

contamination present in this location, " said Slade , registered

professional industrial hygienist and registered construction inspector.

All air samples were compared to the level of the respective outdoor control

sample.

" The fungal swab sample collected from the base of the gypsum board wall in Room

18 indicated the high presence of Stachybotrys and Penicillium/Aspergillus type

fungal growth as well as spore, hyphae and conidiophores structures present, "

said. " And there is visual growth identified on the base of the walls in

Rooms 22, 22A, and 18. "

The three sewage backflows have caused the basement of hall moderate

water damage, water staining and visual mold growth contamination in specific

areas.

The completed report was submitted to SCSU and to the state insurance which will

provide funding for the repair.

Necessary renovations include removing lower portions of the affected wall

areas, treating the remaining wall and rebuilding. The carpets and all adhesives

will also be removed and disinfected.

Spaces like the UTVS edit suites have been shut down since last summer due to

the smell and other classrooms will need to vacate as well. KVSC will have to

relocate for the time needed to make proper repairs as the station is required

by the government to be on the air.

" We can't be off the air for over 48 hours, so we would have to transplant the

radio station to the 13 floor of Sherburne, " Gray said.

Removing the mold for good may be a lengthy and tedious process, but it is one

that must take place. A goal of this summer is set for the project.