Ark Valley News - Fumes close Park City City Hall twice

Fumes close Park City City Hall twice
By Amy Jay
Last Updated: January 10, 2002

Park City City Hall was closed twice before Christmas due to problems related to the construction of a new addition.

Workers are adding about 1,200 square feet to the city building that will house the compliance department, a conference room and the mayor’s office. Jack Whitson, director of economic development, planning and public works in Park City, said the additional space will allow staff members to better utilize room in the current building.

One result of the construction was a carbon monoxide scare Thursday, Dec. 13, that led to the installation of a carbon monoxide detector at City Hall and in the addition.

“The contractor had a space heater that was heating the new addition in order to keep the plaster warm,” Whitson said. “Sometimes they work in the evening, and somebody left it on all night long, and so it built up a lot of carbon monoxide in the building.”

Some employees felt woozy the following morning, Whitson said, so Police Chief George Capps evacuated the building. Capps and Compliance Officer Dennis Rader were transported to a Wichita hospital by ambulance, and other employees traveled there by private car.

“Nobody’s had any lasting effects or anything,” Whitson said. “Everybody went to the hospital and got checked out and was given a clean bill of health.”

The following Thursday, Dec. 20, workers were staining doors for the addition. That wasn’t a health risk, Whitson said, but some employees couldn’t tolerate the fumes. Everyone left for the day, although a secretary monitored the phones from another building.

Whitson said the addition should be finished in a week.