PROSSER -- Eight employees in the Benton County Assessor's Kennewick office started working in Prosser Wednesday after indoor air quality problems forced them from the satellite office.

It's not clear how long the satellite office will remain closed. The county commission plans to discuss the problem Monday, said Benton County Commissioner Leo Bowman.

Work will have to be open to bids, which could take some time, he said. Once it's bid out, the work should take only a week and cost about $40,000.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they don't get someone on it until the end of January," said Benton County Assessor Barbara Wagner.

An air quality survey conducted at the satellite office revealed problems in the ventilation and heating system, prompting the temporary closure of the office, Wagner said. Insulation inside the heating ducts has accumulated debris over the years.

The survey revealed that the building's ventilation system wasn't allowing fresh air into the building, and that it kept humidity levels too low and carbon dioxide levels too high, Wagner said.

The survey also revealed that the fungal spore count at the satellite office was much higher than what was recorded outside, which isn't recommended, she said.

Outside, the spore count was 799, while inside it was more than 9,530, she said, referring to the report. Spore counts in the nearby treasurer's office were only 67, she added.

Some employees working in the office kept getting colds that eventually turned into sinus infections, she said. "I keep getting a sore throat when I'm in that building," she said. "One employee had a sinus infection four times in a row."
Having the eight employees now working at the main office in Prosser makes for cramped conditions there, but it won't thwart operations, she said.

A few appraisers in the Prosser office worked out in the field Wednesday, which freed up some desks for the additional workers. Two workers had to use computers normally available for public use, she said.
"Right now, we're getting by," Wagner said. "We'll just have to learn to get comfortable."

The county is providing the eight employees who normally work in Kennewick with transportation to Prosser, as well as paying for their travel time, she said.

Bowman said that while the survey found problems in the heating and ventilation system, it's not an emergency situation.

"I don't know what the outcome of the (Monday) discussion will be," he said.
The satellite office is housed in the oldest part of an office building at 5600 West Canal Place in Kennewick, Wagner said.

Bowman said he's not convinced health conditions in the satellite office are that bad.
"There are lots of people getting coughs and colds this time of year," he said.

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