ROGERS : Mold removal estimates slow fire station rebuild
Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2008
ROGERS — The black mold growing in the walls of Rogers Fire Station No. 5 looked like the inside of a chocolate wafer cookie.
Throughout the building, golden water stains peppered the ceiling tiles.
Rectangle holes pockmarked walls where crews investigated water leaking throughout the 11-year-old building.
Council members, Mayor Steve Womack and architect Don Spann toured the soggy mess Friday in an effort to decide what’s best for what firefighters once called the “vacation station.”
Council members are expected to meet Sept. 16 to decide if any of the building can be salvaged when they remove the contaminated walls and rusted steel supports for the roof. The mold was found earlier this month during a roof replacement project.
Repairs are estimated to cost about $ 1 million for the partial rebuild and $ 1. 6 million for the total rebuild. Money from the 2006 bond likely would pay for the overhaul, which could take up to seven months on the first option and nearly a year on the second option.
“It’s been a nightmare,” said Alan Bradrick, the city’s fire chief. He made the decision a couple of weeks ago to temporarily close the station after tests confirmed that black mold was growing in the walls.
Equipment and employees were sent to other stations. Bradrick said response times were “pretty close” to what they were when the station was open.
The mold and leaks are attributed to the moisture in the wall cavity caused by condensation from interior gutters that send runoff through the inside of exterior walls and poor construction.
Because of rainy spring and summer seasons, the mold has not become airborne, Womack said. None of the firefighters assigned there have complained of illnesses related to black mold.
City Attorney Ben Lipscomb said because the statute of limitations on the construction had expired, the city has no legal option to recoup any of the costs.
Womack, Bradrick and city treasurer Jerry Hudlow said they couldn’t recall how much the station cost to build in 1997 and were unable to look at the figures Friday afternoon following the tour.
Womack seemed to favor rebuilding the station entirely at Tuesday’s city council meeting, but said he wasn’t as sure Friday after seeing money estimates. “In my mind, it’s 50 percent more,” he said of the nearly $ 546, 000 difference between each remedy.
To contact this reporter: aotoole@arkansasonline. com
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