March 19, 2024

Letter to the editor

It’s great news to hear that the council has decided to go forward with the derelict building grant for Osceola Chamber Main Street and for the possible asbestos removal from both the Murphy and Booth Law Offices. Asbestos removal needs to not be taken likely and should be removed by trained professionals only. This is due to the hazards asbestos can pose if it becomes damaged or disturbed. Although there might not be immediate grave concerns of the asbestos and mold in the building, not taking the time or money to fix it can result in a huge medical concern for anyone in the building.

All it takes is one time period of exposure to disturbed or damaged asbestos and mold to face serious health hazards. If airborne, asbestos can get lodged in a person’s lungs and cause fatal diseases such as mesothelioma, which is a rare cancer which has a very poor prognosis. Sometimes the symptoms of mesothelioma can take 20 to 40 years to be shown.

So at the end of the day, I am pleased to hear that city council members are being cognizant of the potential harm these buildings could cause at the end of the day. Asbestos and mold removal is usually expensive, so some areas in the country don’t see the need to have asbestos removed due to the monetary effects of the townspeople. Keep up the great work!