Moldy Court, OSHA and State Supreme Court

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March 20, 2010

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3/20/2010 1:34:00 PM

City settles with OSHA over court mold

_By Jon Hutchinson_ (mailto:jhutchinson@...)

Staff Reporter

COTTONWOOD - The Cottonwood City Council has approved a settlement with

OSHA over the condition of the Cottonwood Municipal Court building. Former

employees of the court had filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety

and Health Administration.

The city had already confronted the mold problem in July 2009 after the

judge and public works officials investigated. The city sealed off two

building additions that were below grade and trapped moisture. Officials

determined the then-smaller facility should be returned to the retail sector

and

Cottonwood should find a more suitable court building.

OSHA issued Cottonwood two citations on Nov. 24.

The first citation identified the mold in the rear building additions and

in some files there.

The second citation referred to issues such clutter, identification of

exit doors and equipment labeling.

When the federal health officials met with the city, Cottonwood had

already taken steps to remedy the high levels of mold in the additions. The

city

had decided to abandon the old court building and move to the former

Carpet One showroom at Sixth and Mingus, opposite the Verde Justice Court when

that building had been remodeled.

OSHA agreed that as long as the plan goes forward on schedule, a nominal

settlement of a $500 fine would be imposed.

Two boxes of mold-bearing files were copied and incinerated, according to

instructions by the Arizona Supreme Court and other non-critical.