As mold grows and leaks continue

[Guest guest]

As mold grows and leaks continue

Talking Rock City Hall's future in

question

Pickens County Progress,Jasper, Georgia

http://www.pickensprogress.com/talkingrockmayoretc.html

Sams announced the city had received an estimate that removing mold

from the community building, which houses both the fire department

and council meeting area, will cost $12,000. But she noted there is

no reason to proceed with that work until something can be done to

shore up the leaking roof and wobbly walls.

In a follow-up phone interview Sams said this mold problem has

lingered for more than two years, but they are at a point where

something must be done. She said the report indicated the mold is

not the hazardous type.

" There is no public danger, " she said. " You just don't want someone

in there all day, everyday. It's the typical type of mold you find

in many old houses. "

She said an engineer's report noted the building with its old and

unsupported walls might be more expensive to repair than to demolish

and rebuild.

" They didn't condemn it, " she told the council at the meeting. " It

is repairable. But the costs of permanent repairs would be more than

50 percent of the building's estimated value. "

One council member said they should attempt to clean the mold

themselves and see what kind of repairs they could make, but Sams

said for liability purposes it ought to be done professionally.

" When I spent three hours in this building [cleaning the building

and restrooms before the most recent election] I was sick when I got

home, " she said.