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LORDSTOWN -- Village council on Tuesday approved having Buildings / Grounds Superintendent Martin Nelder seek a remediation firm to assess the water department building for any black mold or other health / safety issue.
Officials recommended the cost not exceed $500 to $1,000 or it will be required to come before council for further approval.
Mayor Jackie Woodward said for safety concerns the water department employees were moved to the administration building last week.
"I would like to have the water department building tested to make sure it is safe. We are not sure if there is black mold in the building, I did not feel it was fair to have our water department employees working there if there is potential for harm," Woodward said.
"We need to see if it is safe or if there is a problem there, said Councilman Robert Bond. "We have our suspicions, but nothing official. We have to first determine if the building needs to be remediated and can be remediated."
Village engineer Chris Kogelnik said the water department computers will need to be moved to the administration building for the relocated workers.
TAKE DOWN BUILDING
"Doing an analysis of the building on possible mold can be done quickly and let you know what you may need to do to the building,'' Kogelnik said.
Law Director Matt Ries said the selected firm should let officials know the scope of work that needs to be done on the building before proceeding,
"If there is mold they should be able to provide us with an estimate of how much it will cost for remediation," Ries said.
Council is planning a work session Sept. 18 and will review any assessment done on the water department building if it is available by that date.
Woodward said there have been discussions on possibly bringing the water department to the road department facility. She said there have also been talks of the possibility of adding on to the water department.
Woodward said the results of the assessment will determine what next step needs to be done.
"Have the testing done first and see what happens. Is there mold or not?'' she said.
Councilman Lamar Liming said council needs to make sure first that the water department building is safe.
"We have to see if we have to knock the building down and build new," Liming said.