A local inspection company was testing Tuesday for mold and other harmful pollutants that may be causing some county employees at the Warren County Courthouse to feel sick. Warren County commissioners ordered the air quality tests following complaints from courthouse employees who say they are breathing mold and are concerned about possible health issues. The testing was conducted four weeks after upset courthouse workers packed the commission chambers and voiced their concerns. Besides the mold, Wes Kelley of Warrenton-based 7 Oaks Home Inspection was testing the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels and investigating other possible air quality concerns, according to the commissioners. The testing is costing the county $800. Results are expected within two weeks, the commissioners said. "Our hope is to see if there are any problems and if there are, to address them," Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage said. "If there is not a problem, I don't know what we do. I hope there is no problem. If there is, we will try to fix it." Employees at the courthouse have complained of mold presence and then expressed their concerns after a mold cleaner was sprayed into the courthouse ventilation system Jan. 15 while employees were present. Several employees evacuated the courthouse due to the presence of an unfamiliar smell that left people "gasping for air." Later that afternoon, they were informed by Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson that Sporiciden was sprayed in the courthouse's ventilation system. Employees said the mold cleaner led to health issues, including vomiting and diarrhea. A test conducted on Dec. 12, 2008, showed the mold level to be 120 in the court clerk's office on the second floor of the courthouse. No other office in the courthouse rated higher than a 53. According to the report, a rating less than 150 is low and indicates a low probability of spores originating inside. A rating between 150 and 250 indicates a moderate likelihood of indoor fungal growth. While meeting with the commission Jan. 26, court clerk Gail Wesley read a statement demanding a written apology from the commissioners for not informing them of the decision to spray Sporiciden without alerting the employees and wanted an apology from Hampson. The employees also wanted to know that any future health needs related to the exposure of mold or Sporiciden would be met by the county. The court clerks said the county's workers' compensation agency had been contacted regarding the incident. The commissioners defended the decision to have the Sporiciden sprayed. They said it made sense to address the possibility of mold rather than have a moisture test conducted that may have taken a couple of weeks to schedule. "Everything was treated," Engelage said. "If there is something there, we need to find it if that is what they think they smell and bothering them." The commissioners also feel progress is being made on employee complaints regarding the dirtiness of the courthouse and other county buildings. This year, the county switched to hiring part-time employees in what they believed was going be a better cleaning service after contracting with a St. Charles County company last year. However in that short time span, the county has had trouble keeping a cleaning crew staffed. Having been down to one employee responsible for cleaning all county buildings late last month, the county is now up to three part-time employees working 25 to 30 hours a week. The county doesn't anticipate hiring any more part-time cleaning help. In addition, it's the commissioners' intent to contract with a company to clean departments on separate weekends to catch up with some of the troublesome areas. Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluenser said the county should receive a bid Wednesday from Floor Kings on how much it will cost to clean the sheriff's department. He said other bids also would be obtained before a decision is reached.