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Detailed report cites repeated instances of water damage at Trumbull jail
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
A detailed March 23 report from the foreman of the Trumbull County grand jury listed about 20 problem areas in the jail and focused repeatedly on water damage.
Sheriff Thomas Altiere said a second stainless steel shower stall was being installed this week on the second floor to stop water from leaking from a concrete-block shower.
Problems with floor tiles that have not performed well on the first floor, near the kitchen and laundry areas, are being caused by dampness from the kitchen, the sheriff said.
The grand jury tours the jail once every three months to serve as the eyes and ears of the public and provide an independent report on the conditions there. Typically such reports list a handful of issues.
This report was unusual in its length, detail and the writer’s offering of possible solutions, Altiere said. The writer seemed to be knowledgeable, but some of his suggestions were a bit off the mark, Altiere noted.
In the first-floor laundry area, the foreman observed ceiling-tile damage and “serious floor damage in the hallway.” He added that “New floor tiles were loose and lifted, and standing water was seen under the tiles.”
He suggested it be replaced with “a simple polished cement solution as it seemed successful in other parts of the jail we observed.”
Altiere showed a Vindicator reporter the area mentioned about 20 feet long where floor tiles had been replaced but were even worse than what had been there originally. Another section of hallway had been left original, Altiere said, because he wanted a small section to serve as a test to see whether it worked.
Altiere said the replacement tiles were installed two years ago and are still under warranty. “They said they would wear like iron,” but that was not true, Altiere said, adding that he is not certain yet what the fix will be.
The floor tile problem and rust on the metal parts of the ceiling tiles are all caused by the amount of moisture there because of the kitchen dish-washing equipment being nearby.
Inmates wash the dishes. They put them on racks and place them in the hallways at times to dry, allowing moisture to drip onto the floor, Altiere said.
As for the polished cement, Altiere said the foreman is right that it is used on upper floors of the jail and works there because the moisture problem is much less. If you used polished cement in a damp area, it would be too slippery, he said.
“In the dental care room, there was obvious water damage and evidence of previous leaking directly above the patient chair,” the report said. “More water damage in the ceiling and walls of the camera booking room,” it noted.
“Heavy water damage on the walls and the ceiling” of the second-floor multi-purpose room, the report said. “The water damage seemed to extend into the ceiling light fixtures where there wa discoloration and light bulbs not working.”
“It’s used 24/7 for 20 years,” Altiere said of the jail, built in 1997. “You know, like with a house, it’s going to need repairs.” Altiere has been sheriff since 1993, the entire time this jail has existed.
Howland Police Chief Paul Monroe defeated Altiere in the Democratic primary for sheriff. Monroe will become sheriff at the start of 2017 unless a write-in candidate defeats him in November.