County removes mold, makes progress in elections office

January 19, 2006

By HEATHER RUTZ

419-993-2094

01/18/2006

hrutz@...

LimaOhio

LIMA — The County Board of Elections has new flooring,

ceiling tile and drywall in work and storage areas, after county

crews responded to mold and water problems there.

The rest of the work, in the staff area, will be completed in

June, following the May primary election, Elections Director

Cunningham said.

" We'll shut it down until after the primary, " Cunningham

said. " We'll probably close for a week or so to get it done. "

A sump pump and commercial dehumidifiers are keeping the water

and moisture out of the office now.

This summer, carpet and ceiling tile in the area where staff

desks are will be removed and replaced. While the rest of the office

now has a tile floor, Cunningham wants the staff area recarpeted,

but a decision hasn't been finalized.

In November, Cunningham went to media and spoke at a

commissioners meeting about the mold problems in the board's office

in the basement of the 3rd Ohio District Court of Appeals building.

Cunningham, who had been critical of the commissioners' response

to the issues in the past, said he was satisfied with the progress.

" (Buildings and Grounds Supervisor) Dana (Sterling) and his crew

have done a great job. I'm happy, " Cunningham said. " To their

credit, everything is cleaned out. "

In 2005, commissioners budgeted $50,000 for the work. Cunningham

was not certain how much the work has cost and referred the question

to Sterling who could not be reached for comment.

Cunningham had expressed interest in moving to another space with

better access, but has been unable to find something suitable in the

city's central business district.

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