Lancet Jades
02-22-2004, 12:37 PM
Stinky W.Va. Courthouse Draws Complaints
Sat Feb 21, 3:45 PM ET
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Workers fed up with the stink of sewage gas that wafts through the building housing Berkeley County Magistrate Court are demanding that the county do something about it.
More than two dozen workers, including magistrates, showed up unannounced at the Berkeley County Commission's meeting on Thursday to complain about the noxious fumes.
"The smell was so bad this morning it would make your eyebrows fall out," Magistrate Harry Snow said.
Magistrate Joan Bragg said the stomach-churning smell has sporadically filled the building, a former school, for at least 15 years.
Assistant prosecutor Richard Stephens said he almost passed out Thursday after leaving a hearing.
"It was pretty nasty," Richards said. "I had just gotten up and walked out when pow...it was the kind of smell that just hits you in the face."
Circuit Judge David Sanders told the magistrates he would authorize the closure of magistrate court if they or their staff believe their health or safety is at risk.
"Hopefully we'll find a happy solution, but clearly we can't have people getting sick," Sanders said.
Prolonged exposure to sewer gas, which contains hydrogen sulfide and methane, can cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, nervousness, dizziness, nausea, headache and drowsiness.
Commissioners said they thought the problem had been solved last year when a suspect pipe in the basement was removed. They said peppermint spray will be sprayed through pipes to determine the source of the smell or if there are any cracks or leaks.
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From now o, i'm gonna make it a point to pick out West virginia and Arkansas articles, lol
Sat Feb 21, 3:45 PM ET
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Workers fed up with the stink of sewage gas that wafts through the building housing Berkeley County Magistrate Court are demanding that the county do something about it.
More than two dozen workers, including magistrates, showed up unannounced at the Berkeley County Commission's meeting on Thursday to complain about the noxious fumes.
"The smell was so bad this morning it would make your eyebrows fall out," Magistrate Harry Snow said.
Magistrate Joan Bragg said the stomach-churning smell has sporadically filled the building, a former school, for at least 15 years.
Assistant prosecutor Richard Stephens said he almost passed out Thursday after leaving a hearing.
"It was pretty nasty," Richards said. "I had just gotten up and walked out when pow...it was the kind of smell that just hits you in the face."
Circuit Judge David Sanders told the magistrates he would authorize the closure of magistrate court if they or their staff believe their health or safety is at risk.
"Hopefully we'll find a happy solution, but clearly we can't have people getting sick," Sanders said.
Prolonged exposure to sewer gas, which contains hydrogen sulfide and methane, can cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, nervousness, dizziness, nausea, headache and drowsiness.
Commissioners said they thought the problem had been solved last year when a suspect pipe in the basement was removed. They said peppermint spray will be sprayed through pipes to determine the source of the smell or if there are any cracks or leaks.
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From now o, i'm gonna make it a point to pick out West virginia and Arkansas articles, lol