In Waynesville, North Carolina, aging county buildings are facing increased scrutiny. The buildings in question are the DSS and health department properties, which serve a combined total of 22,000 Haywood County residents every year. Roughly 20 percent of the Haywood County population receives services at DSS, making the state of the building an important matter for locals.

The current DSS building started life as a county hospital back in 1927, with an addition being constructed in 1950. The health department, located about a mile further down the Old Asheville Highway from DSS, operates out of a building that is over half a century old.

While county officials are eager to repair and improve the buildings, the budget needed for these projects could be astronomical. According to local architects, the staff in these buildings would have to be relocated for an entire year during renovations. These renovations include removing lead and asbestos, as well as installing modern heating, venting and air conditioning.

Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer for which there is no known cure. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis.

Commissioner Skeeter Curtis says that the current state of disrepair at these buildings comes from lack of regular maintenance. “I think this is a lesson that all of us should learn,” said Curtis.

“The better you take care of your facilities and your belongings, the better off you’re going to be in the long run.”

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