You might think that a $93 million building that opened just 10 years ago wouldn’t have a major mold problem, but the large county jail in downtown Greensboro would prove you wrong.
A lot of mold has been found on three floors of the relatively new Guilford County jail, and now the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department is addressing the problem with testing, mold mitigation repairs, deep cleaning – and by moving inmates away from the affected areas.
Mold was found in inmate housing areas on the third, fifth, and seventh levels of the jail, and the Sheriff’s Department brought in an independent environmental testing company to evaluate the problem and has hired another company to get rid of the mold and make the areas safe for inmates again.
A Friday, Aug. 19 press release from the department stated. “The health and medical well-being of those living and working in our Detention Centers is an important priority for both the Sheriff’s Office and the County. Accordingly, the testing process is thorough but time-consuming.”
Both the Sheriff’s Department and county officials have been receiving written air quality reports with test results and recommendations regarding the housing units at the Greensboro Detention Center.
As of August 19, HVAC ductwork above some ceiling tiles had been cleaned and a temporary ceiling was installed in one section of the jail until all ceiling tiles damaged by mold can be replaced. Cleanup work proceeded in other areas of the jail as well.
Guilford County government has had major battles with mold over the years but those have generally been in older county buildings – and in buildings that didn’t keep people locked inside all day and all night.
One of the worst cases of mold was in the Guilford County Courthouse in Greensboro where the roof leaked profusely and conditions were horrific in other parts of the building. One room on the top floor had a makeshift pipe that ran from the roof into the room below where a large trash can in the room collected thick black sludge from the roof.
Conditions in the courthouse got so bad at one point that, in a surreal scene, a sheriff’s deputy, acting on behalf of a Guilford County judge, served papers to all of the Guilford County commissioners just before the start of a commissioners’ meeting.
The process of fixing up the courthouse took years and conditions in the building are still less than optimal – but the Sheriff’s Department is trying to address the current problem in the jail in a very swift manner while keeping inmates safe. The department has also been providing detailed updates on the work to remedy the situation and, in the meantime, keep the inmates out of the affected areas.
This is one time when Guilford County is fortunate to have mistakenly built a jail much larger than was needed, with many sections constantly unoccupied. The jail is rated to hold 1,032 inmates but has an average daily population of only 690. That gives the jail staff a lot of options when moving inmates around for repairs in cases like this. Before the jail was built, Sheriff’s Department staff, court officials and a $300,000 jail study all predicted a jail at least this large was badly needed, with some predicting that it would be “full the day it opened.”
Keeping up the property only requires a dedicated work force. It’s like servicing your auto so that it will last 100s of thousands of miles. My last one ran well for 307,000 miles & 22 years. Surely a well-built structure could last a lifetime.
BJ Barnes said the jail was necessary. I think he also wanted to spend millions on a new town hall in Summerfield.
Let’s examine the facts. There was not a mold problems until recently. Mold is attributed to a wet surfaces meeting with organic material mixed with spores floating in the air causing an environment where it can flourish. You get rid of the mold problem by eliminating one of the contributing factors. It’s called proper inspections, routine maintenance and proper cleaning.. When I was Sheriff we had inmates helping do the cleaning and we monitored what they did. We did routine inspections and If the cleaning wasn’t done properly there were repercussions. I guess under Rogers it is too much to expect the same from what he refers to as his “residents”. According to some of the detention officers the “residents” are catered too.
Yes, Scott, the jail was built for future populations replacing a jail that averaged 200 a night sleeping on the floor. If some of the space we now have was used properly, I suspected we would have a safer community. The jail when built came in under time and budget, thanks to good management. It did not have these type problems. Aren’t you glad. Change management (Sheriff), elect Phil Byrd and I bet we could have a great Sheriffs Office and detention center again.
Wow! BJ Barnes, cant tell if you are neo-nazi or slave master running a plantation (repercussions), either way you fit right in with Greensboro longggggg and continual history of racism, willing to bet you and the formal Chief of Police formed a brotherhood, you remember the formal Chief of Police the one who kept a little black book on all the “Black” cops. Now since you are pointing fingers (which seems like you have a problem with the new “Black” Sheriff in town) Let’s examine the facts as you say, in accordance to CDC-There is always some mold around. Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. Mold can get in your home through open doors, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can be brought indoors on clothing, shoes, bags, and even pets….that means mold was around when you had the plantation built and since the building has open areas that are exposed to the elements, especially rain, then it is safe to say one can not eliminate the main contributing factor(s), which is moisture. which also the HVAC system creates moisture which in terms creates a contributing factor but as you stated you would have the inmates, not residents, to clean up mold?…Wonder what community would be safer that you are referring to, shouldnt it be a safer City and or County? if Phil Byrd is anything like you, we should expect this continuation history of racism, which he was born and raised in Greensboro.
Fill it up! SRO!