Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Poor air quality
shut satellite city hall

A mobile facility will serve Waipahu
while the city decides its next move

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

An air quality problem caused by a leaky roof is the reason the city shut down its Waipahu Satellite City Hall at the Daiei shopping center last week, the mayor's office says.

A 40-foot-long bus converted into a mobile facility will temporarily serve customers at the shopping center's parking lot until Mayor Jeremy Harris decides what to do next.

Councilman Mufi Hannemann, one of three Council members who represents Waipahu, said a number of employees have complained about illnesses they believe are related to the satellite city hall.

In the most serious instance, an employee was transferred to another satellite after complaining about dust mites.

"The bottom line here is this has been an ongoing problem where employees have complained extensively for a number of years," Hannemann said. "Their complaints have gone unheeded. For them to not acknowledge it is disingenuous."

Carol Costa, director of customer services, said Thursday that a leaky roof was the reason for the facility's closure.

A news release earlier in the day stated only that the facility had closed and a temporary one would begin service Monday.

Yesterday, following Hannemann's explanation, Costa said: "The air quality problems are being caused by a leaky roof."

Ceiling tiles are disintegrating, she said, "which is not a good environment."

Costa said no report has been completed to show exactly what is creating air quality problems.

The city is looking at relocating the Waipahu Satellite City Hall, possibly to the old Arakawa's store.

---

http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us