The presence of mold has been confirmed in the Warren County Courthouse, but the extent of how serious the problem is remains unknown. According to a test conducted by Wes Kelley of Warrenton-based 7 Oaks Home Inspection, a mold identified as cladosporium was found in the rooftop HVAC unit and is suspected in three of the four units. Of five samples taken between Feb. 16-22, the mold was found in only one location, the air handler on the second-floor unit, the report says. "We found some suspect areas," Kelley told The Record. The five samples were tested for mold or mycelium, defined as a fungus. The remaining four samples that tested negative were taken in the ductwork in the east corner, the ductwork in the judge's office, a small conference room in the lobby area and between the ceiling tiles and metal roof decking. Kelley was assisted by Jim North, of Professional Air Quality Services in St. Charles. Courthouse employees, specifically in the court clerk's office on the second floor, have been complaining about a possible mold presence for some time. Their concerns heightened once Sporiciden, a mold cleaner, was sprayed Jan. 15 in the building's ventilation system while they were present. After the cladosporium mold was detected, further air quality tests were conducted last Thursday by North. He said the results of the spore samples taken at various places should be known this week. There is "a lot of potential for growth," North said. "We found a small percentage, but a lot of the small percentage." If an issue with the mold is determined, Kelley said the mold must be killed and the area around it sanitized. He added that the affected ductwork could be cleaned or replaced. The county commissioners, who have been criticized over the handling of the mold presence by employees, said they are interested in finding a resolution. They released Kelley's report last Thursday, March 4, with some elected officials and county employees in attendance. The commissioners remarked it's too early in the testing process to determine if the mold is causing unsafe working conditions. "It's an ongoing investigation," Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said. As part of the report, Kelley interviewed 11 courthouse employees Feb. 16 regarding their health issues. Of the 11, only one had no complaints about adverse health symptoms. Some of the ailments being experienced by the employees include fatigue, difficulty with concentration, dizziness, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, sore throats, and nose bleeds. Two have sought medical treatment for their symptoms. The employees stated wearing masks while at work lessened their symptoms and said the mold presence was more noticeable when the heating system was running. "I know you are working on it, but there is something there," court clerk Lori Garrison said. "People come up into our office and they can smell it." According to Kelley's report, he said the employees' symptoms are consistent with those found from an airborne contaminant, though it wasn't specified if mold was the cause. North attributed the nose bleeds to testing results of the courthouse's relative humidity. He said the humidity level was reading between 10 to 13 percent, three times lower than what it should be. Kelley's report also noted that moisture, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide readings also were well within normal limits. In areas where ceiling tiles were stained, indicating a water presence, the source of the leak was not determined. Courthouse employees first complained of a mold presence December 2008. At that time, a test showed the mold level to be 120 in the court clerk's office. No other office in the courthouse rated higher than a 53. According to the report, a rating less than 150 is considered low and indicates a low probability of spores originating inside. A rating between 150 and 250 indicates a moderate likelihood of indoor fungal growth. The mold issue resurfaced following a Jan. 5 water leak from a HVAC unit located on the roof that led to the commissioners' decision to have the Sporiciden sprayed 10 days later. Employees questioned why the Sporiciden was sprayed without any advance warning. 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 ventilation system. Employees said the Sporiciden led to several side effects, including vomiting and diarrhea. "I don't know what it is, but something is making us sick," Garrison said. "For me, a lot of it was after the Sporiciden. People were having problems with allergies, getting headaches before the Sporiciden incident. Since the Sporiciden was sprayed, there is more (sickness) than before." While meeting with the commissioners Jan. 26, the court clerks demanded a written apology and wanted to know that any future health needs related to the exposure of mold or Sporiciden would be met by the county. In addition, the employees contacted the county's workers' compensation agency regarding the incident. The commissioners said it made sense to have the possibility of mold addressed rather than have a moisture test conducted that may have taken a couple of weeks to schedule. The initial mold testing cost the county $1,225, including a $425 charge to have the five samples taken. The additional sample expenses are expected to cost an additional $1,050.