News

Capitol cleanup under way after water line bursts

Posted February 11, 2008 10:00 pm

Doug Finke

It could be a week before workers finish cleaning and repairing damage to offices in the state Capitol that were flooded Monday after a fire-sprinkler water line burst.

The line in the ceiling of a second-floor office froze and then burst Sunday night, sending water cascading down four levels of offices, officials said.

No damage estimate was available as workers struggled to dry out soggy carpeting and damaged ceiling tiles using industrial-strength dehumidifiers and fans. None of the recently renovated areas of the Capitol were damaged by the leak.

"We can't do a thorough examination of the water damage until all excess water is removed from the area," said Dave Blanchette, a spokesman for the state's Capital Development Board. "Hopefully, we can get staff in those areas as soon as Tuesday to do some damage assessments and recommend what repairs need to be taken."

Henry Haupt, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White, said agencies hope to have repairs completed by Feb. 19, a day before Gov. Rod Blagojevich is to deliver his budget and state of the state speech.

"Everyone involved in the cleanup thought that was a reasonable date we can meet," Haupt said.

Capitol architect Don McLarty said some ceiling tiles will definitely have to be replaced. Carpeting may not have to be replaced if it can be dried quickly, he said.

Workers are still checking electrical systems, but McLarty said it appeared the water did no damage to them. Water also soaked into the plaster ceiling above the Capitol's north entrance, but McLarty said it does not appear to be in danger of collapsing. The Capitol's north entrance remains closed to give repair crews quick access to the damaged area.

Air monitors were set up to ensure that no asbestos or other harmful material was released into the air. The monitors did not reveal any problems.

The leak forced about two dozen staffers of Gov. Rod Blagojevich to relocate to the adjacent Stratton Office Building. Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said office operations were proceeding normally after the move.

Water flowed into second-floor offices occupied by Comptroller Dan Hynes, whose spokeswoman Carol Knowles said some staffers had to be moved to other areas, but no equipment was damaged. The biggest problem was noise from dehumidifiers that made it difficult for staff to talk on the phone, she said.

Water also got into offices on the first floor and mezzanine level occupied by 13 Democratic state senators. Since the General Assembly was not in session, the senators were not using the offices, although staff members were.

Michelle Hampton, legislative assistant to Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville, said she got to the office about 8 a.m.

"There was water covering the bottom of my shoes," Hampton said. "There was a musty smell in there this morning."

Demuzio's office was generally dry, Hampton said, but she saw desks in other offices covered in plastic sheeting.

"Instead of staying in that mess, I piled up the work and came down to help in the district office," Hampton said. "I'm checking my messages. We are not missing any constituent calls."

Cindy Davidsmeyer, spokeswoman for the Senate Democrats, said it appears some senators will be displaced when they report to Springfield for session Wednesday, although the exact number will depend on cleanup efforts. She said the extent of damage to senators' offices hasn't been determined.

Just what caused the pipe to freeze also hasn't been determined. The break was near an exterior office wall near a door that opens to an outdoor balcony on the Capitol's north side. The office is used by Blagojevich's staff.

The break was discovered about 2:20 a.m. when a fire alarm went off, triggered by water discharging from the sprinkler pipe. Haupt said secretary of state security officers reported the area where the break occurred was cold, but the did not know why.

The sprinkler pipe has been repaired.

Doug Finke can be reached at (217) 788-1527.

Article Categories
News