By STEVEN SPEARS
News Editor

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — Some UCM staff members at the Max. B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport were relocated after air quality tests came back positive for mold.

FILE PHOTO BY ANDREW MATHER
This is the current terminal at the Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport.

Asbestos Consulting and Testing, an environmental firm based in Lenexa, Kansas, conducted the testing March 16 after an individual working at the airport notified UCM Public Safety of an odor in the terminal building. The tests came back positive March 21.

“Air quality sampling was taken, and there were slightly elevated levels of mold in the building,” said Jeff Murphy, assistant director of media relations.

Murphy said the university believes the mold was caused by water intrusion in the southwest, west and northwest sides of the building.

“When we received the results, the airport staff were notified, and the university began to move individuals who wanted to be moved to other parts of the airport,” Murphy said.

There are currently around 20 full-time and part-time employees who work at the terminal. Murphy said only two individuals asked to be relocated while the mold is removed. Their offices were moved to Hangar 3.

“Mold does not necessarily affect everyone the same way,” he said. “Some people aren’t affected at all.”

Murphy said a mobile unit is being installed this week, and all operations currently taking place in the terminal building will be moved to the mobile unit while the university further investigates the extent of the water damage to the building.