OTTAWA — The Franklin County EMS service and Ottawa firefighters have been temporarily relocated to Ottawa Fire Station #1 on Decond Dtreet because mold was found in several places of the ambulance building next to Ransom Memorial Hospital during a recent renovation project. Flappan Consulting, Overland Park, was retained to perform a mold survey of the building, said county health director Midge Ransom. Results of the survey concluded that significant mold contamination existed in the living quarters of the building, radio room ceiling, and two of the three HVAC systems, Ransom said. Although air samples were virtually normal, the consultant recommend removing the EMS crews out of the building because some employees were experiencing some symptoms, she said. The county has contacted KCAMP, the county’s insurance carrier, to see if the county’s insurance would cover remediation efforts, said Steve Harris, county commission chair. The options and the timetable for dealing with the mold will be determined by what the county finds out from KCAMP, Harris said.
Thursday, Aug. 14, 5 p.m.
