News Summary

CARLISLE — The police station will get a new roof in hopes of stopping leaks that are believed to have caused black mold to grow in the Fairview Drive building.

City Council voted Tuesday to spend nearly $30,000 to finish renovations on the building that houses the police and services department.

Toxic mold was found in the structure last December and city officials believe the leaky roof was the culprit.

It's expected to cost almost $20,000 to fix the roof, said Julie Duffy, finance director. The city already has spent about $8,000 to gut the inside of the police station.

City Manager Brad Townsend said they originally planned to put off replacing the roof, but more leaks were found in the service department so they decided to move ahead with a complete overhaul of the roof.

While renovations are under way, police officers are working out of the fire station and town hall. Townsend expects the remodeling to be done in April.

In other action, the council renewed an engineering contract with LJB Inc. after reviewing proposals from five other firms.

The city's five-year contract with the company expired Dec. 31. Under the new agreement, rates for engineering services will go up 15 percent.

Townsend said because LJB has not risen rates in five years the city was, "still getting a good value for the dollar."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2845 or cmagan@coxohio.com.