The State of Ohio has deemed the Fairfield County Health Department unhealthy, according to the Associated Press. Complaints to state officials from an agency staffer prompted an inspection of the building. The employee claims both the public and staff are exposed to high radon levels, rodents, black mold, bats and may have been exposed to lead. The Ohio Department of Health sent a formal request to the county agency to find funds for a new building.
Acting County Health Administrator Larry Hanna said there is a bit of truth to the claims of building health issues, but addressing some of the problems will be expensive, according to the Lancaster Gazette.
Here's who Ohioans are responding to the news:
* "Only in Ohio. The county health department can condemn people's homes and demand state standards be met when drilling a well, but are allowed to keep a building filled with health hazards open. People should not have to work in a building where they are exposed to black mold on a daily basis. Women bring their young children into the building for immunizations, that is dangerous." -- Connie Glass, retired nurse, Hillsboro.
* "The health department is actually adding to public health concerns in that county. The photos of the interior of the building in the local paper were horrible. The workers had to vacate the first floor because of a massive flea infestation and mold this year. Residents should not be forced to expose themselves to health hazards to get the necessary department permits for their business or home projects." -- Marilyn Grinstead, small business owner, Cincinnati
* "This problem did not happen overnight. Why did the county and state elected officials allow this to happen? If the Republicans were not so stubbornly against taxing the rich, there would be enough revenue to afford a building where employees and citizens were not exposed to toxins and disease carrying rodents." -- Rashawna Eastman, Ohio State University graduate student, Columbus.
* "The condition of this building was not a secret. There is no money to buy a new building and the problems were ignored for many years, making repairs impossible now. Unsustainable spending hurts all public agency budgets. Maybe if liberal lawmakers were forced to spent time inside of this building they would understand the true cost of doing business and not spending yourself so far in the hole that you can't take care of routine maintenance." -- Chad Minton, retired law enforcement, Lancaster.
* "Black is very toxic when prolonged exposure occurs. Everyone of those employees can file a lawsuit against the county and the state. The public who must enter the building to file legally mandated paperwork, permits and appeal agency decision's also may have a claim. The deterioration of the building occurred long-term, noting a disregard for the health and safety of both the public and employees." -- Steven Richards, retired attorney, Cleveland.
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