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April 4, 2003 Contacts: Peggy Kennerly (541) 440-3301 ext. 219, Pager: (541) 677-1117; Jim Sellers (503) 945-5738 Asbestos concerns temporarily close DHS offices in Roseburg Concerns that remodeling may have disturbed asbestos in a Roseburg building leased to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) will temporarily close the office and force more than 100 state employees to move temporarily to other quarters on Monday. "An independent industrial hygienist will begin doing testing Sunday morning," said Peggy Kennerly, DHS manager for Douglas County. "Employees will work in other DHS offices in Douglas County at least through Wednesday." Kennerly said DHS learned that a 1991 report showed that some asbestos was present in wall joints and spray-on texturing, and the agency wanted to be sure it hadn’t been disturbed during remodeling. She said it is believed that no original walls came down during the remodel, but that walls may have been disturbed and that carpet was removed. The two-story, 28,975-square-foot building at 1937 W. Harvard Ave., visited by 200-300 clients daily, is owned by Midway Investors of Roseburg. The 112 self-sufficiency and child-welfare employees who work in the office will be moved to other DHS offices in Roseburg, Canyonville, Winston and Drain. Kennerly said intake for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, food stamps and the Oregon Health Plan will be moved to the Disability Services Office at 251 N.E. Garden Valley in Roseburg. She said DHS staff will phone as many clients as possible to tell them about the move, and that a staff member will be stationed at the Harvard Avenue office to redirect clients – and to transport them, if necessary – to the Garden Valley office. DHS will work over the weekend to get the phone number for reporting child abuse and neglect forwarded to another office, Kennerly said. |
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