Fans of the Mountain Arts Community Center may have reason to rejoice after the months-long closure of much of the building following positive tests for mold growth. At a recent budget meeting, Town Council members said they were considering fully reopening the MACC for summer use, though the auditorium would have to remain closed due to safety hazards.
“We made a decision that there was legitimate concern to the safety of continuing operations there,” said Mayor Dick Gee. “However, I’m also fairly comfortable that the issue may not have been as problematic as we were led to believe.”
Another $3,000 mold test has been scheduled to determine the current state of mold outside of the auditorium. The previous test, Gee said, was “far from complete.” However, the council felt it had no choice but to err on the side of caution, hence the closure of much of the MACC.
In the weeks following the closure, a more detailed report announced that of the mold in the building, none was classified as dangerous.
“It was mold that is already present in the environment of Signal Mountain, both indoors and outdoors,” Gee said in a followup interview after the budget meeting. “We’re not sure of the voracity and accuracy of that initial report.”
The scheduled re-testing will be done by a different agency than performed the first test. Gee said the council is currently operating on the assumption that the test will clear the building as safe for public use.
In anticipation, the community center has begun organization for its annual summer camps. MACC Director Barb Storm said staff is already sending out reminders to inform citizens that summer camps will be taking place and that registration is open.
“We’re planning on proceeding with the camps until we’re told we can’t,” said Gee. “I would be very surprised if the tests don’t confirm what we already believe.”
Despite the mold situation, Storm said she’s expecting high turnout for the camps.
“It’s obviously not the best situation, but everyone has rallied and is hanging in there until we can get back to the MACC,” she said. “We’re getting phone calls about [summer camps] almost daily.”
For more information about the MACC and its upcoming summer camps, call 886-1959.