Allen County hospital officials suffered sticker shock Thursday when they reviewed an estimate of nearly $80,000 to remove mold from the county’s medical arts building.
But they were immediately reassured that it shouldn’t cost nearly that much. More like $25,000 to $30,000, a Saint Luke’s representative told them.
The $78,889.24 estimate from BluSky Restoration Contractors was a bit high, Frank Hayden, critical access region facilities manager, said.
He believes the mold remediation work won’t require as many hours or employees as they requested, and suggested ways to bring down the cost.
The Allen County Regional Hospital facilities committee met Thursday to discuss the remodel of the medical arts building that sits to the east of G&W Foods.
THOUGH the hospital is leased to Saint Luke’s Health System, the county still owns the main hospital building and other facilities. And just like any landlord, the county is responsible for its remodeling.
Saint Luke’s and county officials want to remodel the medical arts building at 825 E. Madison St. and move its health clinic there. The clinic is currently at 401 S. Washington, but a lease ends next year.
The medical arts building, which opened in 1976, currently houses three specialty clinics not affiliated with Saint Luke’s. Those services would not be affected; other areas will be remodeled.
Mold and asbestos was found in parts of the building not currently in use.
Most of the mold was found in the basement, where old medical records are stored. Those cardboard boxes contain the worst of the mold.
The basement has flooded several times, and at least twice the flooding was significant enough to cover the floor and boxes.
If the records must be stored in the basement, they could be securely shrink-wrapped in plastic, the report from BluSky said.
It would be better to move them to another location, facilities committee chairman Terry Sparks said. He’s working with county commissioners to see if that’s possible.
Hospital staff have destroyed most of the records that weren’t essential. The remainder must be stored somewhere.
Moving those records would significantly reduce remediation.
