Air getting cleaner at City Hall

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Air getting cleaner at City Hall

A new ventilation system should combat high levels of mold and contaminants.

BY CARA ROBERTS MUREZ

Statesman Journal

February 10

KEIZER - Before long, city employees should be able to take deep breaths and

feel good about it. The air is getting cleaner at the Keizer Police

Department and City Hall.

The Keizer City Council has approved a plan to install new flooring and

improved ventilation systems to combat elevated levels of mold, bacteria and

other contaminants discovered in the buildings since last August.

Cleanup started in January and is expected to be completed by mid-March. It

will cost more than $37,000 initially and $6,000 annually for extra

janitorial services. The city council allocated up to $102, 000 for the

project in case other expensive problems are found. Two cleanup phases still

need council approval.

" I think the steps that the city is taking will help tremendously in

cleaning up the air, " said Dianne Hunt, human resources director for the

city.

Employees reported upper-respiratory illnesses and skin rashes that they

blamed on mold, bacteria and other building contaminants.

After problems surfaced, the city conducted environmental tests at the two

buildings through December. At the police department, tests found high

levels of mold in the evidence room, according to a report from AAA Indoor

Air Quality of Portland. The detective room, reception area and auditorium

had low levels of mold and slightly elevated bacteria levels.

In City Hall, the council chambers, a hallway and the billing office also

had elevated bacteria levels. The city hall was found to have asbestos in

floor tiles, but that is sealed under carpeting that is not being removed,

Hunt said.

The problems were linked in part to sewage spills in recent years from two

police department bathrooms. The floor was cleaned after those incidents,

Hunt said, but mold grew in the carpet. An air conditioner at the police

department also frequently dripped, causing water to build up and seep under

a wall, soaking the carpet in another room.

" If you don't get rid of the source of the mold problem, i.e. the

water-damaged areas, you're not going to get rid of the mold, " Hunt said.

City and police department officials also think mold grew in carpeted areas

with a lot of public or employee foot traffic.

" It gets everywhere, and then it's difficult to get out, " said Sgt. Jeff

Kuhns. " This will be easier to control. "

The police department, where work has started, is now the site of organized

chaos. Carpets have been torn out and cut up. Dust and loud noises from

renovations are in the air. A third of the building has fresh paint and new

tile.

The city is installing a roof exhaust fan in the evidence room to end a

long-standing problem. Air from that room was allowed out into the rest of

the building, perhaps emitting fumes. Fresh air intake lines were installed

in both buildings to improve air quality. The city also is replacing stained

ceiling tiles, thoroughly cleaning remaining carpet and replacing fiberglass

ducts.

At City Hall, a portion of carpet that goes from the entry way and along a

public walkway will be taken out. The city also has begun more frequent

replacement of filters in the buildings.

The last two phases are expected to deal with problems not yet determined

and put in place a new comprehensive maintenance and housekeeping plan.

" Hopefully it's going to at least improve the air quality while we're here, "

Police Chief Marc said. " That's our goals for this is to just abate

those issues. "

Cara Murez can be reached at (503) 399-6750.