The Field House on the campus of Smithfield Selma High School was removed this summer without proper permits from the NC Division of Public Health’s Hazards Control Unit (HHCU). The agency announced this week they will not seek any civil fines or penalties against Johnston County Schools but did send the school system and the demolition contractor a notice of non-compliance. JoCoReport.com Photo
State health officials have announced they will not pursue any civil fines or penalties against Johnston County Schools for not obtaining proper permits before the demolition of the former Field House on the campus of Smithfield Selma High School over the summer.
On August 2nd, WTSB News first reported the Field House was removed without first obtaining a demolition permit from the County Inspections Office and without notifying the NC Division of Public Health’s Hazards Control Unit (HHCU) which requires notification at least 10 days before any building that may contain asbestos is removed.
After our story aired, a contractor for the school system obtained a demolition permit from the County. The HHCU also launched an investigation and send two state health officials to the site.
Cobey Culton, Press Assistant in the Office of Communication for the NCDHHS said inspectors “determined the asbestos-containing materials were removed in the proper manner.”
Culton said the HHCU will not pursue any civil penalties or fines against Johnston County Schools or the demolition contractor however both received a notice of non-compliance for demolishing the Field House without notification.
The building was removed after complaints first surfaced in March from a parent of a SSS baseball player about mold, standing water, and electrical hazards in the Field House, which was used by some student athletics.
