By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – Controversy over mold in City Hall is growing.
A WXYZ Channel 7 news report last week highlighted complaints by several city workers who said they’ve complained about health issues caused by mold in the building for more than a year.
According to published reports, in response to at least one employee complaint to Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a study was conducted and a report from Kalamazoo-based Environmental and Occupational Consulting and Training Inc. dated May 10, 2010, was sent to Assistant City Engineer Gregory Mayhew.
But some city workers told the news station off-camera that they hadn’t been told about the mold until the report was recently dropped in their mailboxes.
The report detailed mold contamination in the basement found in air samples taken after a February 2010 visit to council chambers and stated that they may cause illness to city employees and frequenters of the building.
Recommendations totaling $350,000 were reportedly included in the report, including replacing the entire roof, which the city has patched. They also stripped carpeting from the basement and closed the area off to the public.
New air sampling tests are to be conducted soon to determine if the air quality has improved. They will cost the city about $1,200.
Mayor Joseph Peterson and City Administrator Todd Drysdale did not return phone calls seeking comment for this story by press time.