TRUMBULL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Panel will vote to pursue building renovation

Mold has spread to the department's upper floors.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners are expected to vote today to hire an architect to investigate renovating the county health department building, instead of moving out of the building as previously planned.
The architect will likely complete the study of needed building improvements within four to six weeks, county administrator Tony Carson said.
Wants to save money
The change in course was prompted by Commissioner Dan Polivka's estimate that renovating the Chestnut Avenue building could save the county hundreds of thousands of dollars over leasing space somewhere else. However, health department officials are skeptical, saying that Polivka's $257,000 estimate for renovations is excessively rosy.
"I think that number is awful low," said health board chairman Scott Thompson, who estimated it would cost $800,000 to $900,000 to fix the building. He said he was also concerned that the commissioner's estimate did not include making the building handicapped accessible.
Commissioners have had several changes of heart regarding the health department building since toxic mold was discovered in the basement more than two years ago. Initially, they planned to move the department into the county-owned Wean Building.
When that plan fell through because of concerns about the available space, commissioners twice solicited bids from potential landlords for rental space. Bids came in at about $785,000 a year.
Condition worsens
In the meantime, the building has deteriorated. Basement flooding that caused the mold was never fixed and additional problems developed with the furnaces, plumbing, windows, roof and outside steps.
Mold was recently discovered on the first and second floors of the health department, where there are offices and the health department's clinic for pregnant women, said Frank Migliozzi, the department's director of environmental health. Tests have not been conducted to see if the mold is poisonous.
"There needs to be some major renovations to all three floors," he said.
Makes more sense
Polivka, who has been commissioner since January, said that renovating the building made more sense for taxpayers. By his estimate, renovating would save the county $356,000 over signing a 10-year-lease, and leave the county with a building worth about $300,000 at the end of the lease period.
"I think the easy solution would be to move and just lease another building, but my conscience wouldn't let me do that," he said.
He said that the entire building does not have to be made handicapped accessible, as long as there was a place on the first floor where handicapped people could be served.
Commissioner James Tsagaris said he would also be in favor of renovations, if an architect confirms it will save the county money.
"We can't waste any time," he said. "It is a disgrace the way it is."
Commissioner Joseph J. Angelo Jr. said he is willing to consider renovations, after recently learning that the concrete building is structurally sound.