Cass to seek bids to repair moisture problems in social services building

LONGVILLE -- The Cass County Board voted Tuesday night to seek bids to repair moisture problems in the existing social services building in Walker and to construct an addition to that building.

The board will reserve the right to accept or reject any portion of those bids, depending upon prices received.

Administrator Robert Yochum reported Wold Architects and Engineers' investigation into problems in the existing 10-year-old building shows a plastic flashing was used at ground level between the brick and concrete foundation.

The plastic apparently has deteriorated to the point air conditioned air is blowing out of the joint between the brick and foundation, he said.

Further, the poured concrete foundation was only "damp proofed," not water proofed, Yochum said.

Any cracks in the foundation wall will not keep out the water. There is some indication that there is cracking in the foundation wall, he added.

To repair this situation, it will be necessary to excavate along the east building wall and install a waterproofing membrane, he said. This also will mean pilings will have to be installed, because the wall is close to the street and in sandy soil, he added.

Interior wall board must be replaced where water damage has been sustained, Yochum said.

On the issue of poor building ventilation, Yochum reported a return air fan needs to be installed in existing return air ducts and the outside air intake extended to the roof of the new addition to accommodate the existing and new building areas.

Existing carpet has frayed, causing a safety hazard in much of the social services building. This needs to be replaced, he said.

Preliminary cost estimates for repairs will mean the county will not have enough money from the bond sale for new construction to make planned improvements to the parking lot adjacent to the former Hope Lutheran Church the county bought last year, Yochum said.

If the county sells the current public health section of the Walker Clinic complex, an estimated $150,000 could be generated to offset the social services building repair costs, Yochum said.

Board Chair Jim Demgen said he wants to see repairs done to the existing social services building before the addition to it is constructed.

Commissioner Virgil Foster said he thinks the repair costs will be lower if that work is done in conjunction with the new construction.

Wold Architects and Engineers' tentative construction scheduled for the addition calls for bids to be received and construction to begin in September, with a June 2001 completion date and July 2001 occupancy.

Yochum reported tests are being run to determine the type of mold in the existing social services building walls.