Molds are simple organisms (fungi) that grow on almost any organic substance as long as there's oxygen and moisture. Small amounts of indoor mold are normal, but large quantities can cause odors, health problems[1] and, in some cases, structural damage to wood. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home"[2] .Typical costs:

Before doing any mold remediation, hire an environmental company for testing the type of mold and especially if the mold is alive.

The guys working really did a great job. It's been agreat experience having them do the mold removal!

April 2015 (drop down box does not give 2015 as an option)I bought a 1600+ sq ft ranch house that needed mold remediation in the attic. My best guess of why the mold was there is perhaps when the previous owner replaced the roof, they forgot to properly ventilate the three bathrooms and they covered the soffit vents with insulation to save money on heating bill. The roof is about 7-10 years old, so I'm guessing this was how long the house had improper ventilation.The company I hired for mold remediation in my attic used mostly bleach. I didn't do much research beforehand, but in the documents that I signed, the contractor said they would use Microban, ShockWave, SurfaceShield, and bleachIt is too early to determine the quality of the job they did. If you're reading this at a later date, please email me if you'd like an update.

If you have or suspect mold in your house, basement, attic or crawl space; then I strongly suggest hiring a professional to inspect and remediate the problem. Ask for certifications. And not just GL insurance but also Environmental & Pollution (EP) insurance. If one doesn't have EP insurance then any damage from the remediation will not be covered by just their GL. EP covers mold & water intrusions and is very expensive to have. "trust me" Also, the use of bleach is not recommended as it will cause an allergic reaction with some types of molds releasing harmful spores into the air. An antimicrobial solution should be used to remediate the mold. This type of product cost about $25-$35 more a gallon than bleach. That's why "unprofessional" contractors have taken jobs away from me because they were cheaper. They also used bleach in which the home owners had no idea of the risk. If your in VA and have ?'s about mold, please feel free to contact me. Hope this helps. D. Nixon 804.437.0870

If you are willing to buy a house with mold or one that has flooded in the past (whether or not the seller allegedly clean it out), the best thing that you can do is to hire an environmental specialist to inspect the damage first (this is not covered in the initial inspection of the home as this is not part of their job description). They will be able inform you how much damage there really is and give you an estimate of how much it will cost to repair the damages. If there is visible damage, there is a definite possibly that the mold spead to the structure of the house as well. If there is no visible damage, there may be damage under the paneling or wall that you can not see. This also has the possiblity of causing structural damage. Weighing the results from the environmental specialist's views will help you to determine if the house is worth it in the end. If you choose not to use an environmental specialist due to costs, you are better off finding another house because the damages are could be higher than hiring a professional only for an estimate. Especiially seeing that many of them will do the estimate for free.

I am hoping that this mold problem can be a do-it-yourself fix...otherwise I really don't feel comfortable purchasing this home knowing that it will triggar an asthmatic rx in myself and possibly my boys. I believe it is due to bad drainage outside and can be fixed, but at what cost?

Well, I was looking in purcharing this house when I readed on it, it's SOLD AS IS an I read in the clause that it has mold in the house but I don't know how bad it is. I really like the house but I'm not to sure should I get the house since I have three small children an my finacee is like really back out the deal cause he thinking about the saftey for my kids. I'm not to sure should I go head an buy it an spend more money on the house or should I keep looking for something else?

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2021 Cost of Mold Remediation - Estimates and Prices Paid

WATER DAMAGE Floods, leaks, water intrusions...They not only cause structural damage, but create the moist environment that mold thrives on. Read More MOLD & WATER DAMAGE Rapid response flood damage restoration and mold removal services using latest technology Read More OUR SERVICES INCLUDE Water Damage Mold Remediation Fire Damage Restoration Leak Detection And More ...Read More

From the childrens room to high-rises, we take on projects both small and large. Residential, commercial, municipal, storage, government, and industrial mold remediation projects areall covered and treated with uncompromisingdetermination to create purified spaces. Flood damage, flooded basements, water cleanup, water damage restoration, home flood restoration, repairing water damage, mold inspection, prevention, evaluation, and black mold abatement are just some of our specialties.

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We all share the Earth and Dry Ease is dedicated to its conservation, which is why our removal treatments rehabilitatewithout harming your environment.

Moisture can get deep inside the property, collecting in unseen places or even compromising the structure itself. We dont stop our remediation process with the mold you can only see.

Our mold inspection and testing procedures are designed to help clients discover, document, and understand mold related issues through professional investigation, testing, and analysis methods in conjunction with proven sampling strategies.

Mold decontamination is one of our highest priorities. We take extensive measures to ensure your property is clean. If one area is of concern, we seal off the rest of the property to avoid cross contamination to properly complete our mold removal

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Mold Removal NYC | #1 Mold Inspection Company in New York ...

Molds are found everywhere, and can grow on almost any substance when moisture is present. They reproduce byspores, which are carried byair currents. When spores land on a moist surface suitable for life such as drywall, cloth, or any porous material they begin to grow. Mold is normally found indoors at levels which do not affect most healthy individuals.

Because commonbuilding materialsare capable of sustaining mold growth and mold spores are ubiquitous, mold growth in an indoor environment is typically related to water or moisture and may be caused by incomplete drying of flooring materials (such as concrete).Flooding, leaky roofs, building-maintenance or indoor-plumbingproblems can lead to interior mold growth. Water vapor commonly condenses on surfaces cooler than the moisture-laden air, enabling mold to flourish.This moisture vapor passes through walls and ceilings, typically condensing during the winter in climates with a long heating season. Floors over crawl spaces and basements, withoutvapor barriersor with dirt floors, are mold-prone. The doormat test detects moisture from concrete slabs without a sub-slab vapor barrier.Some materials, such apolished concrete, do not support mold growth.

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Mold Remediation and Mold Removal | Black Mold Cleanup

Presidents of the Federation of Teachers Union (AFT) in both districts expressed concern that they were being excluded from the decision-making process as it relates to the resumption of in-person learning at the territory's public schools.

AFT St. Croix President, Rosa Soto-Thomas, said during a Senate Committee on Education and Workforce Development hearing Friday that union leaders along with teachers receive important information from the Dept. of Education through social media along with the general public. "There are instances when pertinent information is not communicated directly to our members and the union but is released via social media and other mediums, causing chaos and mistrust," she said.

Carol Callwood, the St. Thomas-St. John District AFT president, said, One thing that is undeniably clear and demonstrated throughout the nation, successful school reopening plans include the representatives of the employees. Mr. Callwood also believes union leaders and teachers are provided information after decisions are made by the Dept. of Education.

"The most important people to discuss how to open a classroom and how to resume instruction should be the people who are resuming instruction, he said during testimony, stressing that D.O.E. only provides information after the department has decided on a particular matter.

Ms. Soto-Thomas spoke on a recent case of Covid-19 at D.O.E. where she said a member of the department was identified as a close contact of the person who tested positive. This person, she said, returned to work before the current CDC guideline recommended. She added that D.O.E. did not sanitize the building in which the Covid-positive individual worked. This fans the flame of further mistrust and resentment on behalf of AFT members and rightfully so," Ms. Soto-Thomas said.

She provided a checklist of items that would need to be resolved before teachers felt safe about resuming in-person learning. Some items on the list included a Covid-19 response plan for each site; proper ventilation and mold remediation; teacher shortage and retention; and working to rebuild trust between educators and the Dept. of Education.

Ms. Soto-Thomas's demands caught the attention of Senator Kurt Vialet, who said, When it comes to the public school children we always have an excuse as to why we dont want them to be educated. He agreed that teachers should have status of negotiation, but added, You put 20 negatives as to why you cant open and then right after that you put we want to negotiate.

Mr. Vialet added, I have stood on this floor countless times and said the Department of Education must include teachers in the decisions. That is how we determine the path moving forward. But we cant have every single entity giving a justification on why we cant have in-school learning when you have the private and parochial schools going to school every single day.

Senator Marvin Blyden chimed in on the matter of private and parochial schools being open for in-person learning. Why reinvent the wheel," he said. "Look at what works, what we can improve on, and get it done. Let's just do it."

Ms. Soto-Thomas stated, Id be lying if I said the [Dept. of Education] hasnt made progress. They have made a lot of progress but we are still not where we need to be.

Get the latest news straight to your phone with the VI Consortium app.

Link:
AFT Union Heads Blast Dept. Of Education For Keeping Educators, Unions Out Of Decision-Making On School Reopening - VI Consortium

Antimicrobial Coatings Market research report is the new statistical data source added by A2Z Market Research.

Antimicrobial Coatings Market is growing at a High CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2027. The increasing interest of the individuals in this industry is that the major reason for the expansion of this market.

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Various factors are responsible for the markets growth trajectory, which are studied at length in the report. In addition, the report lists down the restraints that are posing threat to the global Antimicrobial Coatings market. It also gauges the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat from new entrants and product substitute, and the degree of competition prevailing in the market. The influence of the latest government guidelines is also analyzed in detail in the report. It studies the Antimicrobial Coatings markets trajectory between forecast periods.

Global Antimicrobial Coatings Market Segmentation:

Market Segmentation: By Type

Antimicrobial CoatingsSurface Modifications and Coatings

Market Segmentation: By Application

Indoor Air / HVACMedicalMold RemediationBuilding & ConstructionFoods & BeveragesTextilesOthers

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Regions Covered in the Global Antimicrobial Coatings Market Report 2021: The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt) North America (the United States, Mexico, and Canada) South America (Brazil etc.) Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)

The cost analysis of the Global Antimicrobial Coatings Market has been performed while keeping in view manufacturing expenses, labor cost, and raw materials and their market concentration rate, suppliers, and price trend. Other factors such as Supply chain, downstream buyers, and sourcing strategy have been assessed to provide a complete and in-depth view of the market. Buyers of the report will also be exposed to a study on market positioning with factors such as target client, brand strategy, and price strategy taken into consideration.

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Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Antimicrobial Coatings market.

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Global Antimicrobial Coatings Market Research Report 2021 2027

Chapter 1 Antimicrobial Coatings Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region

Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions

Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application

Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis

Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis

Chapter 12 Global Antimicrobial Coatings Market Forecast

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Comprehensive Report on Antimicrobial Coatings Market 2021 | Size, Growth, Demand, Opportunities & Forecast To 2027 | Harland Medical Systems,...

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. (CBS) Its a moldy mess infesting a vacant south suburban condo, wreaking havoc on the neighbor upstairs.

CBS2 Investigator Megan Hickey got a look at the rotting residence and a neighbor claimed the whole problem could have been avoided.

Vivian Sanders pipes burst over the weekend. Plumbers told her its because of the vacant condo below. She said shes been making calls about the filthy conditions for years, but nothing was ever done.

Four days with no water. Vivian Sanders has had it.

No water. Thats it. I have no water in the sink, Sanders said.

Shes lived in this Country Club Hills condo for 27 years. And it wasnt until her downstairs neighbor up and left a few years ago that she started having problems.

I started smelling something that didnt smell quite right, Sanders said.

Tonia Pace lives next to moldy unit.

This is unbelievable to me, the amount of mold that I am seeing, Pace said. That back wall right there, thats my unit on the other side of that wall.

Sanders lives above moldy unit. The carpet used to beige. Now its covered with what looks like green moss. Cobwebs are frozen to the door. And dark mold coats the walls.

Im always telling them the source of the problem is on the first floor, please go in there, Sanders said. And they could not go in there, would not go in there.

A spokesperson for city of Country Clubs Hills said the building department deemed it unfit for occupancy. But the person added theyre waiting on Sanders homeowners association to begin repairs. A spokesperson for the association said theyve been trying unsuccessfully to contact the owner of the moldy unit, HHS Marketing, LLC.

The association said it is taking every possible step, saying it couldnt get involved until it impacted one of their condos.

All of the places that I go to tell me their hands are tied, Sanders said. Who needs to untie these hands? Someone needs to answer my questions.

Both the city and the association said they had plumbers out to Sanders property and are trying to fix the pipe issue as quickly as possible.

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Something Didnt Smell Quite Right: Moldy Mess In Country Club Hills Condo Building That No One Wants To Clean Up - CBS Chicago

Falmouth Housing Authority was awarded $2.8 million in emergency funding from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to replace the leaking pipes throughout the Harborview and Tataket apartment buildings in Falmouth.

The pipes in both buildings have been leaking for years, causing water damage and mold in the common areas and in the tenants apartments.

The housing authoritys capital plan was revised earlier this year to address the emergent nature of the repairs and was approved by Department of Housing and Urban Development. In September, Falmouth Housing Authority Executive Director Bobbi Richards applied for the grant, which saved the organization from having to spend years worth of capital funding.

The federally-subsidized housing complexes hold 163 low-income apartments. The housing authority has been under scrutiny by the Falmouth Board of Health since August when the health department inspected the properties. They found substantial water leaks and mold, and ordered the agency to make repairs. Ms. Richards has been updating the board on ongoing remediation efforts until the major repairs begin. Work on the four-story Harborview building is scheduled to begin this month. The bid process for Tataket will begin in a few months, Ms. Richards said in an e-mail.

Both projects will require the housing authority to relocate tenants to alternative lodging for about 10 days while repairs are made.

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Housing Authority Awarded $2.8 Million To Fix Apartment Buildings - CapeNews.net

Antifungal Coatings market Global Industrial Analysis and Forecast Research Report to 2027

The Global Antifungal Coatings Market research report focuses on size, market share, growth, suppliers, and forecast for 2027. The updated report on the Antifungal Coatings market and provides potential market analysis and forecast till the year 2027. This market analysis study focuses primarily on the factors that make a profit when a company uses a sector of the market.

This report is a complete guide to providing an analysis of the complete Antifungal Coatings process, cost structure, raw materials, investment feasibility, and return on investment. Provides SWOT analysis, market growth, production, profit, and supply and demand statistics

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AK CoatingsAkzoNobelBASFArkemaCovestro

By Type:

SilverCopper

By Application:

Indoor Air / HVACMedicalMold RemediationBuilding & ConstructionFoods & Beverages

External and internal variables that are expected to have a positive or negative impact on the industry are investigated, providing decision-makers with a strong potential vision for the industry. This study helps explain the complexity of the global ventilator industry by assessing market segments and predicting the size of the global ventilator market. The report guides investors through a consistent representation of end-user industry participants, product portfolios, prices, financial conditions, growth strategies, and competitive analysis by the regional presence in the global Antifungal Coatings market.

The Antifungal Coatings Market provides a unique product definition, classification, and primary rating for the Antifungal Coatings industry that protects individuals as a corporate chain. Quantitative and qualitative analysis is provided considering the competitive panorama in the global market, the trend of improvement, and the key success factors prevalent in the Antifungal Coatings initiative.

Key Points:

1. Executive Summary2. Antifungal Coatings Market: Detailed Overview3. Global Antifungal Coatings Market: Analysis by Type4. Antifungal Coatings Market: Analysis By Application5. Antifungal Coatings Market: Regional Analysis6. Antifungal Coatings Market Dynamics7. Antifungal Coatings Market Competitive Landscape Analysis

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Regional Analysis for Global Antifungal Coatings MarketNorth America United States Canada Mexico

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Russia Others

Asia-Pacific China Japan South Korea Australia India Southeast Asia Others

Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Egypt Nigeria South Africa Others

South America Brazil Argentina Columbia Chile Others

Global Antifungal Coatings Market Research Report 2020-2027

Chapter 1: Antifungal Coatings Market: Detailed Overview

Chapter 2: Antifungal Coatings Market Size by Product and Application

Chapter 3: Environment Analysis of Market.

Chapter 4: Production analysis by Regions

Chapter 5: Value Chain and Sales Channel Analysis

Chapter 6: Analysis of Antifungal Coatings Market Revenue Market Status.

Chapter 7: Analysis of Industry Key Manufacturers

Chapter 8: costing and pricing scenarios of the global Antifungal Coatings market.

Chapter 9: Continue To TOC

Read Detailed TOC of The Report at: https://www.globalmarketers.biz/report/chemicals-and-materials/global-antifungal-coatings-market-research-report-by-industry-growth,-size-(by-value-&-volume),-latest-trends-and-regional-forecast-till-2027/164984#table_of_contents

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Antifungal Coatings Market Demand, Top Key Players, Applications, Business Statistics and Research Methodology by Forecast to 2027 Atlantic Financial...

With most of us having spent months within the confines of our homes during the pandemic, we havent felt safer than before. What could possibly affect our health while we are indoors? Well, little do we know that while we may be safe from outdoor pollutants, there are certain indoor allergens that can make us prone to serious allergies. We all believe that sweeping, mopping, dusting are enough to make your homes clean and allergy proof. There are traces of hidden dust consisting of cockroach allergens, dust mites allergens, dog allergens, mould, bacteria and fungi commonly present in surfaces where we eat, sit, play and sleep. And traditional methods of cleaning may not really help in fully eliminating them.Dr. Lancelot Pinto, Consultant Pulmonologist, P.D Hinduja Hospital & MRC, A common symptom reported by a majority of patients with asthma is the triggering of symptoms when they clean the house, remove clothes from closets, or when they notice mold in the monsoons. House dust mites, pet dander, smokes and fumes from poorly ventilated kitchens are all common triggers for worsening of symptoms and triggering of attacks, and these are all related to the indoor environment. At the workplace, poor air conditioning, dust from carpets and enclosed spaces all contribute to worsening of symptoms. We focus a lot on outdoor air pollution, but forget that it is not the only contributor to indoor air quality, and given that most of us spend a majority of our day indoors, we definitely need to focus more on improving the indoor air quality. In a recent study conducted by FRAC and Dyson titled Indian Households Hidden Dust, there were some shocking findings. Most houses showed the presence of dog and dust mite allergens. Dust mite and cockroach allergens are common triggers of all-year round allergy and asthma symptoms. Moulds type of fungus that typically grows in damp areas within homes and cars in warm conditions trigger allergies. The study showed that fungi were commonly present in dust collected from car interiors. Moreover, the health risks to babies from pollutants in household dust may be 100 times greater than for adults.Not only this, the air in your home can contain myriad substances, from particles like dust, allergens, gases, VOCs, NO2 and benzene. These substances are known for their potential to cause respiratory and cardiovascular health problems. They can also irritate eyes, throat and skin leading to various allergic reactions. Long term exposure to high levels of dust can cause health problems especially amongst young children, elderlies, and ones with pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions. This creates a huge need to adopt more effective methods of cleaning and follow a routine clean-up to eliminate every ounce of those hidden dust, making our home not just germ free but also the safest place to be. Some of the techniques to use are Using natural cleaning productsVacuuming regularlyVentilating and cleaning frequently to get rid of dust and pollen allergensMonitoring indoor air quality

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Why indoor air pollutants can be as dangerous as outdoor air pollutants - Times of India

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) The State of Floridas most recent annual operational audit of Bay District Schools found 10 issues with policies and procedures.

Floridas Auditor General pointed out some issues impacting student safety and others questioning how the District spent millions of dollars on construction projects after Hurricane Michael.

By coincidence, the audit was released just as District leaders are asking voters to approve a tax increase. If approved the money raised through a millage rate increase would go to help to pay for staff salaries increase, school safety costs and other important items, officials said.

One of the discrepancies in the audit involved school safety funding under the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Act.Under the funding guidelines, school district officials are required to conduct fire and school shooter drills, as well as background screenings of all contractor workers. Bay District School officials did not meet all of the requirements.

The agency also took issue with the districts record-keeping on $5.9 million in sales surtax money, its subcontractor payment process, and, in a separate issue, its records on $54.8 million spent with six contractors for District remediation projects.

The main point of disagreement is not so much how the money was spent as whether or not the district had the proper legal authority to spend it under a Hurricane Michael emergency order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Its an ongoing argument and, so far, neither side is backing down.

Other irregularities involve administrators failing to account for all of the money spent by employees using purchasing cards, failing to post all of the budget data in the District web need as required by law, and insuring ineligible dependents in the Districts self-insurance program for employees, retirees, and dependents.

The district issued a response to auditors on these issues. That written response is signed by Superintendent Bill Husfelt. News 13 also took the audit to the district and asked for more clarification and their responses are included below. Finally, it should be noted that the audit is designed to look at procedures and methods by government agencies. There are no fines or other consequences associated with the results.

SCHOOL SAFETY

The audit found that the district did not hold all of the 14 required active shooter and fire emergency drills from August of 2019 through February of 2020. The district did not verify that school officers were present each day at the districts 10 charter schools.

District officials said they did not believe they were responsible for the charter schools personnel. The District also did not have records of whether or not Bay County Sheriffs deputies who work in the school system have completed their required mental health crisis intervention training.

District officials noted that the school was not even in-session on campuses for three months due to COVID-19 and did not conduct all of the required drills. The district also claims it has now improved its record-keeping and is working with the sheriffs office to ensure the training is completed.

The real question related not to whether or not we actually conducted the drills but whether or not all of the related paperwork could easily be located by the auditor, said Josh Balkom, BDS Executive Director of Operational and Support Services. Our schools were literally closed down and no drills occurred during three months included in this audit.

He added, we understand the auditors notes and have taken steps to ensure the paperwork is more readily accessible and can be checked by third parties.

Another issues highlighted by auditors was required background screenings on contractors and other adults working on campus. The required screenings were not done for at least seven workers over the last five years.

We take this responsibility very seriously and screened more than 220 contracted employees during the audit period of July 2019 through February 2020, Balkom said. This finding actually relates to some of our contracted employees who work for companies like PanCare and ChartwellsK12. In all cases, the employees had been screened but their badges had expired and soon as this was brought to our attention we both adjusted our procedures and rescreened the employees in question all of whom passed the background check successfully.

In response, district officials said they will improve their procedures and consistently check the backgrounds of these employees.

FINANCIAL CONCERNS

Auditors say the district took money from the wrong part of its budget, its discretionary sales surtax, to pay $5.9 million for modular classrooms after Hurricane Michael. In response, the District said it was acting under Gov. Ron DeSantis emergency order which suspended certain requirements. However, auditors said the emergency order did not apply to school districts and that their recommendation stands.

The same disagreement is behind another of the auditors findings. The district does not have certified copies of payment and performance bonds from six contractors who did $54.8 million worth of work following Hurricane Michael. Those contractors are Cotton, Northstar, Servpro, Southern Cat, and GAC, district officials said.

Again, the District argues that it was acting under the Governors Executive Order and also notes that halting all the projects in order to identify all the costs and the scope of the work would have prevented the recovery for an extended period of time.

Bay Districts attorney, Heather Hudson, said the district acted within the law.

The Supreme Court of Floridas opinions, as far back as eight decades, include references to school districts as political subdivisions, she wrote. I feel confident that the School Boards remediation contracts immediately following Hurricane Michael fall squarely within the bounds of actions to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community. The only way the District could have possibly addressed its facilities throughout the county before they became public health issues filled with mold and/or attracting all sorts of nuisances, was to immediately remediate the structures to the best of your ability.

Hurricane Michael required the district to move quickly, officials added.

We are very familiar with the bond requirements in place, said BDS Chief Financial Officer Jim Loyed, but after the extreme devastation of Hurricane Michael it was impossible to even put a dollar figure on the amount of bond required normally because the dollar amount of the mitigation needed immediately was not known at the outset. We needed to get the contractors in as soon as possible to begin the clean up so our students could return to school and no one knew on day one what they would find or the true extent of the damage.

Even though there are no real-world consequences to the auditors report District leaders say they are continuing to dispute the findings. Those discussions between the district and the auditors continued on Friday, officials said.

The audit also found that the district was not sufficiently monitoring payments to subcontractors and that they could not confirm that services were obtained at the lowest cost with acceptable quality. Auditors called into question $281,535 in spending on an $8.2 million project.The district said the project in question did not go over budget and that subcontractors were properly paid.

At the time this contract was let, the general conditions of the contract did not require line item invoices for approval, it was a lump sum cost said BDS Director of Facilities Lee Walters. And, on all construction projects, third party inspections by licensed building officials are completed and those inspections must be approved before the certificate of occupancy is issued and the building can be occupied.

Design engineers also complete inspections ensuring that the projects were built as designed, Walters said.

This concern from auditors comes after federal charges were filed in Lynn Haven over fraud with contractors and construction projects following Hurricane Michael. As part of that ongoing investigation, federal prosecutors demanded thousands of documents related to construction projects done by Bay District, Bay County, Panama City Beach, and Panama City. District officials said some of the documents in the audit were also requested in the subpoena. They also noted that those documents have been provided both to the FBI and to the media. And they say, ultimately, the two issues are in no way related.

OTHER CONCERNS

The audit stated that the district must improve how it handles self-insurance healthcare claims, determines dependents eligibility for health insurance, and monitors purchasing cards that are distributed to employees to buy work related items.

We do not disagree that improvements in process can always be made, Loyed said. But the truth is we are always going to err on the side of supporting our employees and giving them as much grace as possible to provide supporting documentation because we know that health insurance is critical to so many.

The districts insurance claims have been audited by two other independent entities and no one has found any evidence that non-covered employees or family members received services to which they were not entitled, he added.

Finally, the audit noted that the district was required under state law to post financial data to the web. The data is meant to enable taxpayers to evaluate the financial efficiency of the District. However, district officials said they could not meet this requirement.

It was impossible to meet the State requirements this year since (The Florida Department of Education) did not provide us with the required information until after the deadline.

The district added that it would meet the requirement when it received the information.

As soon as the state provides us with the required information, we post that to our website, Loyed said.

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Audit reveals money, safety issues with Bay District - WMBB - mypanhandle.com