Mesothelioma and Asbestos News

City Hall closed due to asbestos threat

The City Manager is awaiting test results on a piece of lining that fell inside an air duct.

Media reports indicated that some of the lab results on a piece of tape resulted positive for asbestos Tuesday, but the City denies the report.

City Manager Alan Tandy said it is standard procedure, due to the age of City Hall, to test suspicious materials that may come loose.

The City hired an independent company to perform the tests last night.

In order to ensure public safety, City Hall employees were on paid administrative leave Wednesday and City Hall is closed.

All other City buildings remain open.

It was not good news for Ted Brown who drove from Rosedale to downtown to bring a claim to the Clerk’s Office.

“Today, a wasted trip,” Brown said. “with gas prices the way they are.”

The City Manager said none of the results are back yet regarding asbestos.

Asbestos is dangerous because naturally occurring fibers remain in the air, and often are inhaled.

Most of the fibers are breathed in and out of the lungs, but in some cases, the fibers stick in the lungs, causing inflammation and sometimes, cancer.

The danger lies in situations where there is high concentration of loose asbestos fibers in the air, and when the person is frequently exposed to the fibers for a long period of time.

Tandy expects City Hall to open Thursday.

He is set to talk at a news conference Wednesday.

Tandy said he hopes to have the results of the tests by then.