Nassau County Officers Face Hidden Danger

News4Jax.com POSTED: 6:42 pm EDT May 2, 2006

UPDATED: 9:34 pm EDT May 2, 2006

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. -- The employees of the Nassau County Sheriff's Office who hit the streets and put their lives on the line every day protecting the public are also facing hidden dangers in their own headquarters, environmental experts said.

Parts of the department's main building have been declared unsuitable for people. Air-quality tests recently came back positive for an airborne fungus.

The building is almost 30 years old, and it appears the county will either have to renovate it or tear it down.
Kathy Hall, who works for the Sheriff's Department, recently found out that the building she works in could be what has been making her sick. The office she works in is filled with mold.

"I tend to have more sinus problems, sore throat, sinus pressure and a few nose bleeds," Hall said.

Channel 4 investigators recently received a copy of a study on the Sheriff's Department building. The report states, "Based on air sample results, portions of the building are considered unsuitable for general occupancy."

Sheriff Tommy Seagraves said they were told that some rooms in the building should not be entered. However, workers have no choice but to occupy the dangerous rooms to do their jobs.

Another problem at the building is bad wiring. Many of the smoke and fire detectors in the building don’t work.
Five years ago, the county was trying to make changes by building a new jail and judicial complex. The Sheriff Department was supposed to move to the new complex, but did not have the funds needed to do so.

It could cost about $12 million to build a new office, according to officials. County officials said they don't have that money.

"My hands are tied. All I can do is work with what I've been left to work with," Seagraves said.

The county commission said they hope to meet with the sheriff's department sometime during the week.
The commission told Channel 4 there was no money to make improvements to the mold-filled building, but said they will find a way to work on the problem.
 
 
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