Governor's Mansion Mold Cleanup Should Have Cost Much Less

[Guest guest]

Governor's Mansion Mold Cleanup Should Have Cost Much Less

POSTED: 5:39 pm EST March 2, 2006

UPDATED: 6:59 pm EST March 2, 2006

http://www.nbc17.com/news/7625242/detail.html

Video

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The multimillion-dollar project to rid North

Carolina's governor's mansion of mold has wrapped up, but an NBC-17

investigation found the state was slow to fix the problem and knew

about it years ago.

Next to the Biltmore Estate, the governor's mansion is probably

North Carolina's second most famous home. But, the treasure was

pretty much trashed just a few months ago.

Former Gov. Jim Hunt still feels the effects of 16 years in the

mansion. Hunt and his wife complained about the mold for most of the

time they lived there.

" My wife and I could tell there were problems, " Hunt said. " We had

real health problems. "

In 2000, Mrs. Hunt gave the people who maintain the state buildings

a tour of the mansion and pointed out its ventilation problems.

An August 2000 memo obtained by NBc-17 states: " Mrs. Hunt pointed

out sooty contaminants (and) that she and the governor are

constantly sick with respiratory illness. "

" There were recurring colds and head sinus problems ... the state

had a real problem, " Gov. Hunt told NBC-17.

In May 2000, a health department inspector found mold on the walls

and ceiling of the second-floor living quarters. In December of that

year, a contractor warned the state it needed to replace the entire

ventilation system for $500,000 and added that cleaning would not

help the problem.

But, the state opted to just clean the mansion for $26,000 and the

mold came back. It wasn't fixed until just a few months ago.

The complete project cost more than $3 million. The governor's

office would not provide NBC-17 with the exact figures.

" We've got the greatest governor's mansion in America, " Hunt

said. " Gov. Easley and Mrs. Easley deserve to live in it in a

healthy way. "

NBC-17 tried to ask the State Construction Office and the individual

contractors why the problems were discovered in 2000, but weren't

fixed until this year. Both said they could not comment on anything

and directed NBC-17 to the governor's office.

Despite repeated requests, the governor's press office would not

make Easley available for an interview.

Former Agricultural Commissioner Britt Cobb helped oversee the

project that forced the governor out of his home this past August.

Cobb led NBC-17 on a tour of the mansion, pointing out where the

mold was discovered.

Workers basically gutted the entire mansion, fixed the leaky roof,

put in new insulation, walls and storm windows. They also

waterproofed the basement and installed a new ventilation system,

which had been recommended five years ago.

" Every room has it's individual thermostat (that is) on a computer

system and constantly monitored, " Cobb said.

Nowhere in the paperwork NBC-17 requested from the governor's office

was a project budget shown or bids taken for the contract, which the

office admits went over budget.

" The initial emergency declaration was $3.5 million, " Cobb told NBC-

17. " We know it's going to be more than that, but we don't have

numbers yet. "

Cobb admits the state dropped the ball maintaining the mansion. That

dropped ball is something taxpayers are paying for now.

" Yes, had (the recent cleanup) been done 20 years ago, it could have

been done for a lot less, " Cobb said.

Homeowners can learn a lesson from the mansion mess. Once mold shows

up in a home or building, do everything to get rid of it or it will

be back. For the state, it's a costly lesson and one that Hunt said

he has to live with for the rest of his life.

" We had a real problem. I'm delighted it's been cleared up ... it

took a lot of money to fix it, " Hunt said. " I think it's opened a

lot of our eyes. We're going to start doing a better job of

maintenance. "

Public tours of the governor's mansion have resumed. They are by

appointment only and cover the first floor only.

[Guest guest]

I work across from the Gov's Mansion and a ton of companies were

over there working 24 hrs a day. Most white trucks with no

names. They didn't tear down no walls outside and I still think

the mansion is a mold hole as my state gov. building is also. In

no way is the mansion clean if the didn't take drapes, bedding,

carpete ETC. everything out of there. It was not done. I'm working

in a mold hole, trying to detox a house and mold holes evewhere.

Oh, KC, I printed out something from the past and Dr. was on

the Enviromental AHAM list. I'm so glad and this group got

me to the right doc.

Now bad part is, I put some things under my house today to store,

the outside air ducts were covered in what look DIRT or could be

MOLD. AB said didn't think envrionment would grow mold BUT to wet

wip all air ducts so I will with white vinegar. Like I need more

work to do????????Stupid hvac people need some eduacation

bigtime!!!!!!Going to call this guy and try to educate him! A

person I knew way back said small people look cute like small

doggies, pet them and they might bite your frickin hand off, YEPPER,

on that one, I'm small, but will bite your hand off and then some.

Ya know, I have a BAD ATTITUDE now worse than ever. LATER.

Tired, bye

--- In , " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2c@...>

wrote:

>

> Governor's Mansion Mold Cleanup Should Have Cost Much Less

>

> POSTED: 5:39 pm EST March 2, 2006

> UPDATED: 6:59 pm EST March 2, 2006

> http://www.nbc17.com/news/7625242/detail.html

>

> Video

>

> RALEIGH, N.C. -- The multimillion-dollar project to rid North

> Carolina's governor's mansion of mold has wrapped up, but an NBC-

17

> investigation found the state was slow to fix the problem and knew

> about it years ago.

>

> Next to the Biltmore Estate, the governor's mansion is probably

> North Carolina's second most famous home. But, the treasure was

> pretty much trashed just a few months ago.

>

> Former Gov. Jim Hunt still feels the effects of 16 years in the

> mansion. Hunt and his wife complained about the mold for most of

the

> time they lived there.

>

> " My wife and I could tell there were problems, " Hunt said. " We had

> real health problems. "

>

> In 2000, Mrs. Hunt gave the people who maintain the state

buildings

> a tour of the mansion and pointed out its ventilation problems.

>

> An August 2000 memo obtained by NBc-17 states: " Mrs. Hunt pointed

> out sooty contaminants (and) that she and the governor are

> constantly sick with respiratory illness. "

>

> " There were recurring colds and head sinus problems ... the state

> had a real problem, " Gov. Hunt told NBC-17.

>

> In May 2000, a health department inspector found mold on the walls

> and ceiling of the second-floor living quarters. In December of

that

> year, a contractor warned the state it needed to replace the

entire

> ventilation system for $500,000 and added that cleaning would not

> help the problem.

>

> But, the state opted to just clean the mansion for $26,000 and the

> mold came back. It wasn't fixed until just a few months ago.

>

> The complete project cost more than $3 million. The governor's

> office would not provide NBC-17 with the exact figures.

>

> " We've got the greatest governor's mansion in America, " Hunt

> said. " Gov. Easley and Mrs. Easley deserve to live in it in a

> healthy way. "

>

> NBC-17 tried to ask the State Construction Office and the

individual

> contractors why the problems were discovered in 2000, but weren't

> fixed until this year. Both said they could not comment on

anything

> and directed NBC-17 to the governor's office.

>

> Despite repeated requests, the governor's press office would not

> make Easley available for an interview.

>

> Former Agricultural Commissioner Britt Cobb helped oversee the

> project that forced the governor out of his home this past August.

>

> Cobb led NBC-17 on a tour of the mansion, pointing out where the

> mold was discovered.

>

> Workers basically gutted the entire mansion, fixed the leaky roof,

> put in new insulation, walls and storm windows. They also

> waterproofed the basement and installed a new ventilation system,

> which had been recommended five years ago.

>

> " Every room has it's individual thermostat (that is) on a computer

> system and constantly monitored, " Cobb said.

>

> Nowhere in the paperwork NBC-17 requested from the governor's

office

> was a project budget shown or bids taken for the contract, which

the

> office admits went over budget.

>

> " The initial emergency declaration was $3.5 million, " Cobb told

NBC-

> 17. " We know it's going to be more than that, but we don't have

> numbers yet. "

>

> Cobb admits the state dropped the ball maintaining the mansion.

That

> dropped ball is something taxpayers are paying for now.

>

> " Yes, had (the recent cleanup) been done 20 years ago, it could

have

> been done for a lot less, " Cobb said.

>

> Homeowners can learn a lesson from the mansion mess. Once mold

shows

> up in a home or building, do everything to get rid of it or it

will

> be back. For the state, it's a costly lesson and one that Hunt

said

> he has to live with for the rest of his life.

>

> " We had a real problem. I'm delighted it's been cleared up ... it

> took a lot of money to fix it, " Hunt said. " I think it's opened a

> lot of our eyes. We're going to start doing a better job of

> maintenance. "

>

> Public tours of the governor's mansion have resumed. They are by

> appointment only and cover the first floor only.

>