Earlier this month, the City of Jackson was forced to shut down Thalia Mara Hall after early microbial activity was found. We quickly alerted the public and the media of this development when the information was made available to us. City officials then immediately worked to hire a contractor to analyze the environment, provide a summation and propose options for remediation.
In the interest of transparency, the City of Jackson is releasing the “Indoor Air Quality Assessment” report. The report, reviewed by a senior industrial hygienist, outlines the findings from the company the city contracted with, CTEH – Environmental and Scientific Consulting Services. The report recommends the repair of the HVAC system and the removal of some carpeting. It also recommends the cleaning of carpets, hard surfaces, floors and soft upholstery. A final air quality clearance survey is also requested. Today, the remediation team will meet with city officials for the third time.
The city remains committed to restoring Thalia and has put great effort in securing funding for those means. We were recently given $1.5 million in needed funding by the state to help do this. But this is an ongoing effort.
Most important, though, is the health and safety of our community. We will reopen Thalia when these concerns are alleviated. We do not currently have a timeframe of repairs, but will advise the public when we do. The city thanks the public for their patience and understanding during this temporary hiatus.