Bethel firm to remove mold in Heim buildings

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Bethel firm to remove mold in Heim buildings

Reading Eagle

http://www.readingeagle.com/re/news/1527893.asp

The 11-week cleanup will help get the two vacant structures ready

for other uses.

By E. Young

Reading Eagle

Cleaning up mold at two vacant Berks Heim buildings will cost

$69,897 and take 11 weeks to complete, the Berks County

commissioners said Thursday.

Commissioners W. Gajewski Sr. and Mark C. agreed to

hire Proac Corp., Bethel Township, to remove the mold.

Gajewski, who was acting as chairman in the absence of Commissioner

Judith L. Schwank, said the mold grew in sections of the main

building on County Welfare Road and the nearby annex as a result of

water damage.

The work at the buildings in Bern Township is expected to begin

within the next week, officials said.

The buildings were vacated in September when residents were moved

into a new nursing home across from the annex.

The mold was found in February after maintenance workers making

daily checks on the buildings became sick. The daily checks were

stopped, and the buildings were sealed until the mold could be

removed.

County officials believe the mold began forming after the

temperature dropped in November and condensation dripped from pipes

because the heat had been turned off.

The commissioners plan to renovate the annex for use as a community

correctional center for nonviolent inmates to ease overcrowding at

the prison.

Space on the lower level of the main building is being renovated for

the veterans affairs office, which is expected to move during the

summer from 1901 Tulpehocken Road, Wyomissing.

In other business, Gajewski and approved a resolution opposing

a proposed $2.6 million cut in federal funding for programs for

abused and neglected children and asking the federal government to

release more than $137.8 million in funds already due the state.

With other recent cuts, the total loss to the county would be about

$10 million, the resolution states.

Local taxpayers will be forced to pay for services for children if

the cuts are approved, according to the resolution.

Contact reporter E. Young at 610-478-6292 or

myoung@....