Beech Grove City Hall faces mold problem

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Beech Grove City Hall faces mold problem

Posted: Aug 5, 2009 06:55 PM EDT

Updated: Aug 5, 2009 07:00 PM EDT

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WTHR - Indianapolis,IN,USA

Beech Grove City Hall mold

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Cat Andersen/Eyewitness News

Beech Grove - Inspectors cited Beech Grove's city hall with a number of health

violations. Leaks and poor drainage has led to serious mold problems, yet some

city employees are still working there.

Inside the Beech Grove City Hall, you'll find puddles on tables, rotting ceiling

tiles, warped walls and carpets and mold on every level from the vents to the

water-logged basement.

The city council meetings have been moved from that building to the community

center, and so have the courts.

" The conditions just aren't acceptable for people to be there and that's why

they moved the meetings, so I don't know why it's okay for people to continue to

work in that building, " said Hubbard, Beech Grove resident.

Even the mayor has moved his office and assistants to a different building, but

some city employees are still required to work there.

" We have a gal that is pregnant, " said Ed Bell, city council member.

Mold has been shown to weaken the immune system, trigger asthma attacks, cause

infections and migraines and over time, can attack the brain and even cause

death.

" It's not only a health issue and a city hall landmark but you have government

not being done right for the people, " said Bud Templin, city council member.

City council members say they were told the meetings were being moved because

the heat and air conditioning system wasn't working.

" There was no mention about any mold issue, " said Bell.

They say they were floored when they found a n County Health Department

inspection report listing violations due to mold as far back as March 2008.

" It was clearly obvious that was the reason we were moving out, " said Bell.

" It's a slap in the face. "

City council members say they've gone to the mayor to ask about this inspection

report and also what he plans on doing to solve this problem. They say they

cannot get him on record to discuss any sort of solution.

" We've asked him to come before the council and answer questions but he refuses

to do that. He wants to do it in private but we've had enough of the private, "

said Bell.

The mayor would not speak to Eyewitness News personally but his public relations

staff said they had ultra violet air purifiers installed in the air conditioning

system.

" They're trying to put a Band-Aid on the situation when it's a serious problem, "

said Bell.

The clerk treasurer says she feels safe working in her wing.

" I personally trust the board of health inspector, " said Kincaid.

The n County Health inspector says while the non-operational parts of the

building do need work, they found no reason to vacate the working offices

because they found no visible signs of mold in the work space.

Eyewitness News spotted mold growing from the ceiling and the walls in the

employee's bathroom and from behind the refrigerator in the break room, however.

Beech Grove City Council meetings are open to the public. They take place the

first Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. The next meeting is September 7th at the

Hornet Park Community Center.