Robbinsville – The presence of toxic materials inside the Graham County Detention Center is forcing a six-figure repair bill.
At June 18’s board of commissioners meeting, county project manager Jason Marino broke down the latest report from Fleetwood Daniels Group about lingering asbestos and lead-based paint inside the county jail. The Waynesville-based contractor recently tested the center and found containing materials in the doorway of an office and underneath a section of floor tile.
“According to the report, the majority of the issue with the lead is in the wood trim,” Marino explained. “We’ve decided to use a liquid substance to peel the paint off and remove that trim. We would install new doors and trim.”
Marino added that with encapsulated paint, the problem could be rectified for 5-10 years.
Officials thought a renovation to the Clerk of Court’s office in 2014 solved the issue, but following a Jan. 16 test inside the detention center, the presence of lead-based paint was discovered. Between 30-40 inmates are “housed” at any given time by the jail; of that, only eight beds are on-site. Thus, 80 percent of those in custody are held in other facilities around the region, from Haywood County in Waynesville to Cherokee County in Murphy. The detention center is currently housed in the bottom of the aged Graham County Courthouse. Consistent problems with overcrowding – combined with difficulties holding trials in the sole courtroom, located on the main floor – have propelled commissioners to examine the construction of a new justice center.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to asbestos can increase the likelihood of mesothelioma, as well as cancers in the lung and colon.
Meanwhile, exposure to lead paint can cause high blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, diminished motor skills, fatigue and memory loss. The World Health Organization states that high levels of exposure can induce coma, convulsions and death.
Fleetwood Daniels provided an estimated cost for repairs in the $75,000-$100,000 price range.
Budget overview
Finance officer Stacy Carpenter was putting the final touches on the 2024-25 county budget and was not present for June 18’s meeting; however, a draft ordinance was distributed to those in attendance.
Items of note are:
* The minimum hourly rate for a county employee will be $14;
* The county’s ad valorem (millage) rate will remain at 59 cents;
* Total operating expenses are projected to reach $24,833,763; $23,618,509 of that is in the general fund;
* Public safety takes up the largest portion of the county’s expenditures, which accounts for $8,781,256 (37.18 percent) of the general fund;
* Each county fire department (Graham County, Meadow Branch, Santeetlah, Snowbird and Stecoah) have been appropriated $45,000 apiece;
* Proceeds from the National Opioid Settlement are forecasted to be $98,584; there are various expenses already in place for positions across the county to meet the projection.