Pikeville finds more than mold - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

6 September 2007 — The mold that drove the BB&T out of their old building on Main Street in Pikeville may prove to be one of many obstacles in renovating the building for town use.

The building was vacated several years ago when the bank moved to its current location near the intersection of Main Street and Highway 117. The owner, Yvonne Smith, donated the building to the town earlier this year.

Last month, the Pikeville town board voted 3-2 to spend $9,800 to remove the mold from the building so that it could be a useable structure. The town signed a contract with Serv-Pro to remove the mold, and the company began soon after.

And that’s where the trouble really began.

After workers had removed carpets and wallpaper, Serv-Pro informed the town that the building has several structural problems that would require repair. Work was then stopped on the building until the town board could decide what direction to take on the project.

Mayor Herb Sieger told the board that if they decide to forego the project, the town will not be held liable for the full amount contracted.

“We may not be held liable for any of it, since the work didn’t get very far,” he said.

He then proposed that the town hold a work session to lay out the facts of the situation and make a decision.

Commissioner Johnny Weaver said he was enthusiastic about holding a meeting.

“I am willing to sit down at a workshop, lay it all out, and then come back at a public meeting and present it,” he said.

Commissioner Weaver was one of the commissioners to vote against signing the contract to have the mold removed last month, He said he did not want the town to make any sort of financial commitment to the building until they knew what they would use it for, and how much the overall project would cost.

Though no vote had been taken on the matter, Mayor Herb Sieger and several others had hoped to renovate the building to use for a new town hall.

The board voted unanimously to hold a work session on Wednesday to discuss the situation before taking action.

Citizen Rosie Colvin asked the town if any official entity had determined what kind of mold was in the building. She said that she was concerned about the potential health problems the mold could cause.

Mayor Sieger said that ServPro had determined the mold in the building was not black mold, which is toxic.

“It’s just common household mold,” he said.

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