Toxic mold found at Public Library (, SD)

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Toxic mold found at city library

By: Chuck Blomberg, The Daily Republic May 18, 2002

Trace levels of toxic - or " black " - mold have been found in the basement of

the Public Library building, but city officials say a report shows

the mold is not at dangerous or unusual levels. Although city officials

refused to release the report, they said the city and a Sioux Falls

contractor's insurance company are working on a plan to remedy the

building's mold problem. " I think they're on top it, " said Mayor Alice

Claggett, who said she just learned of the report Friday morning. " I don't

think it's going to be a problem. "

A report on the mold problem was completed by GeoTek Engineering and Testing

Services, of Sioux Falls, in January. The report was made because of serious

water damage that occurred in November. Many city officials, including

Claggett, Human Resources Director Teri Bertness and City Attorney Carl

Koch, said they had not seen the GeoTek report until Friday morning.

Koch, City Library Director Jackie Hess and Bertness would not release the

report to The Daily Republic.

Bertness said the report would be released once the city had time to digest

it and Council members were informed of its contents. Council members meet

Monday and Bertness said the issue likely will be brought up at the meeting.

Although the details and specifics of the report were not available, Koch

said the toxic mold was found only in the basement. He said the report

showed no signs of toxic mold on the main floor.

Members of the general public are not allowed in the library basement.

Bertness said if there were health concerns, the building would " absolutely "

be closed. Mike Meyer, of GeoTek, would not talk specifically about what

was found at the library. However, as an expert on mold, Meyer said

black mold, or stachybotrys, is a common problem that can cause headaches,

internal bleeding, sore throat, skin rashes, vomiting and diarrhea.

" It's a mold that's pretty common in the environment in wet conditions, "

Meyer said, adding that many newer buildings create the right kind of

conditions for mold. " They insulate these places and then seal them up like

a drum. It's like living in a plastic bag. "

Meyer said that for a healthy person, a low level of black mold is not a

major concern, but he said that even low levels can cause problems for

babies, elderly people, people who are seriously ill or those with allergies

or asthma.

Symptoms that come from black mold generally disappear once the

contamination is removed, Meyer said.

The report submitted to the city was done at the cost of the insurance

company of M.J. Dalsin Co., of Sioux Falls.

M.J. Dalsin had been working to replace the library roof in November when it

rained and water damage occurred within the building. Another leak occurred

last week and also was reported to the insurance company.

Hess referred all questions to insurance adjuster Dave Brown, but Brown

would not comment and left it up to the city to release the report.

The city and the insurance company are now working to determine how much of

the mold problem occurred because of the leaky roof and how much of it

existed prior to the incident in November.

Once that is determined, a cleanup that's expected to cost anywhere from

$40,000 to $75,000 will take place. City officials do not expect that the

library will have to close during the cleanup process.

©The Daily Republic 2002