The Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center, which houses the prosecutor’s office and other court offices, closed Tuesday due to disruptive mold removal, according to a Monroe County Board of Commissioners press release.
Some staff reported mild symptoms from mold growth in recent days, which was likely caused by water issues in the building, potentially caused by an insufficient HVAC design, aging infrastructure or improperly wrapped ductwork in combination with the prolonged humidity.
Removal began on the second and third floors on Monday, but the removal activities became too disruptive for staff to continue their work by Tuesday afternoon, prompting the closure of the prosecutor’s office and court offices. Due to reliance on the offices to function properly, many additional Monroe County offices in several buildings were closed. The jail, which is served by a separate air-handling system than the prosecutor’s and court offices, has no known mold concerns.
Disruptive removal activities are expected to last through Wednesday, and operations are expected to resume on Thursday. Efforts will continue into next week, and immunocompromised staff are encouraged to make alternative working arrangements with their supervisors.
VET Environmental will conduct comprehensive testing of both floors once removal is complete.
“While it’s never ideal to close essential offices, this is a temporary measure to ensure the safety of our dedicated county staff and minimize disruption to their work,” Board of Commissioners President Julie Thomas said in the press release. “Ultimately, these mold issues underscore the need for a new, modern facility to serve the residents and employees of Monroe County as soon as possible.”
