Mold closes offices at Chemeketa Community College

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Mold closes offices at Chemeketa Community College

Several programs will be relocated; building might close for good

SARAH EVANS

Statesman Journal

Salem,OR

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January 7, 2006

Chemeketa Community College is moving staff members out of Building

17 on the Salem campus after it discovered mold growing in two of

the building's offices.

The nine staff members in the building, which houses the offices for

Chemeketa's developmental-education programs, will be relocating

during the next few weeks to several other buildings.

Despite mold being found in only two offices, all of the staff in

the building will be moved as a precaution, college spokesman

Hawkins said.

" The moisture content of the walls leads to the possibility that the

mold might migrate to other areas, " Hawkins said.

The college has decided, for now, not to fix the problem, because

the old age and condition of the building do not make it worth

spending the estimated $100,000 it could take to do repairs, said

Craig , Chemeketa's vice president and chief financial officer.

Instead, the college will close the building, likely permanently,

said.

The problem began last March, when employees in the building

expressed concerns about air quality. Fish, the director of

developmental education, said that one person who had asthma began

having more problems with it, and others complained about coughing

and sneezing.

" You can just look at the building and know it's a target for mold, "

Fish said. " It looks like a happy mold home because of the moisture

around the base. "

College officials examined the building at the time, finding

moisture and dry rot in the siding on one wall, but no mold,

said. That wall was repaired.

When employees continued having complaints this fall, the school

brought in an industrial-hygiene consultant to do tests. The

consultant's report, which Chemeketa got Tuesday, showed two types

of mold in two offices. One of the molds was airborne.

Moisture had leaked in on one wall, and although mold was found only

in the two offices, officials thought it might spread, Hawkins said.

" There were no samples discovered in the air in other parts of the

building, so this is a precaution to take the rest of the people out

of the building, " he said.

The two people whose offices had mold in them -- Fish and another

employee -- already have moved to other parts of Building 17.

Eventually, once extra space is found, all employees will go to

other buildings.

Airborne aspergillus/penicillium-like spores were found in Fish's

office, and that office has been sealed off from the rest of the

building, including its ventilation system. The other office

contained a slime mold called stachybotrys, and plastic sheeting was

placed over it to keep people from coming into contact with it.

Kathy Ellis, the consultant who did the tests, said she only found

airborne spores directly next to where she saw the mold in Fish's

office. She also said it was not necessary to move everyone out of

the building, but that she understood the precaution.

Being around molds can cause allergies, and sometimes cause attacks

in people who have asthma, Ellis said.

Building 17 is one of several portable buildings the college

acquired about 35 years ago, said. The buildings already had

been used before the college purchased them, and they were supposed

to only be temporarily used at Chemeketa, he said. Building 17 sits

on a wooden foundation and has wooden siding.

The college also has asked Ellis to do air tests in the other

similar buildings near Building 17, to make sure they don't have any

problems.

Fish said she was happy with the way the college responded to the

problem.

" I am very pleased that the college just decided to get this move

over with, not because I felt imminent danger, but because it speaks

to the college's concern for staff, " Fish said. " They took the

complaints seriously, and didn't just think we were imagining it. "

sevans@... or (503) 399-6856