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Mold forces police station’s closure
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Friday, Dec. 29, 2006
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![[Image]](/content_images/122906_par-01.jpg) |
| Photo by THOMAS MICHALSKI |
| Sgt. Tracy Scofield, left foreground, and Capt. Sandy Forseth listen attentively along with other police personnel. |
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PINELLAS PARK – The two-story, 1970s-era police administration building on Dec. 21 was ordered evacuated and closed due to a mold infestation that was uncovered during a routine inspection.
All police officers and civilian employees were scattered to other buildings in various parts of the city, with main functions relocated to Park Station at 5851 Park Blvd.
Police personnel took over the Pinellas Park/Mid County Chamber of Commerce offices, public rooms and training classrooms.
The patrol division will work out of trailers that are expected to be located on or near the police department’s parking lot on 59th Street.
Remaining at the police station only is the 911 emergency call center that is sealed off from the rest of the building.
The cost to eliminate the mold has not yet been determined, but is expected to go into the hundreds of thousands of dollars because of the renovations involved.
City officials said the evacuation could last as little as 90 days to as much as six months or more.
Plans to relocate emergency personnel to either the Pinellas County 911 site in Clearwater or the Sunstar Emergency Services facility in Largo were scuttled when it was determined that the first floor 911 operation at the police building could be closed off.
City and health officials were quick to point out that there was or is no danger of police personnel falling ill due to the mold that attacked the inside walls of mainly the second floor.
An emergency meeting was called on Dec. 21 at the City Auditorium between city and environmental officials and uniformed and civilian police personnel.
“While the mold poses no threat,” Chief Dorene Thomas said, “we feel that the safest and most efficient way to fix the problem is to remove everyone from the building so workers can complete the removal and associated repairs.”
Thomas said there will be no interruption to police response and all normal services will continue as usual.
Michael Gustafson, city manager, said the main concern is for the health and safety of police personnel and other employees.
“The work could have been done by isolating sections of the building and working around employee functions,” Gustafson said. “We feel it is worth the extra effort to vacate the building while the work is being done.”
City and health professionals at the meeting said the mold in no way can cause illness.
The mold was discovered during a routine environmental inspection while the building was undergoing renovations to offices, the communications center and other areas. It is believed that the mold came from water leaks before the roof was repaired last month.
The mold is located behind closed walls on the second floor that houses administrative offices and the criminal investigations bureau. It presents no danger at its present location, but could cause mild problems such as runny eyes for those persons already suffering from certain allergies.
The medical problems, if any, could arise once workers tear down the walls where the mold exists. The microscopic mold would then become airborne which is why officials decided to empty the building.
Wolfgang Paltian, CEO/forensic microscopist of Air Quality Environmental Inc. of Seminole, said “mold is everywhere.” He said the size of the mold is so small that thousands could fit across the width of a human hair.
James F. Rizk, president of OHC Environmental Engineering of Tampa, said all the mold discovered was inside the second floor walls. He said the mold will be cleaned out with detergents and not chemicals.
Dr. James Johnson took questions from police personnel and said there are no long- or short-term medical problems expected.
“If you believe the mold has affected you then by all means have it checked out,” Johnson said.
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Article published on Friday, Dec. 29, 2006
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