CLARK COMPLEX

INTRODUCTION

 

The Humboldt County Grand Jury inspected the Clarke Complex, located on Harris Street between H and I Streets.  A survey conducted by the 1999-2000 Grand Jury of custodial and maintenance procedures highlighted certain problems with the Clarke Complex.  The original building was built around 1916 as a hospital.  The Clarke addition was added in the late 1950s.  The hospital moved out in the late 1970s.  This complex now houses county offices for the following departments:  public works, planning, election's office, coroners office, mental health, Sempervirens, rehabilitation center, and various outbuildings used for storage. 

 

PROCEDURE

 

County employees and Eureka Fire Department staff were interviewed and three separate inspections were made of  the main building.  Eureka Fire Department reports were reviewed and documents from the 1999-2000 grand jury.

 

FINDINGS

 

F-1       County employees at the Clark Complex told the grand jury the main building of the                          complex does not comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

 

F-2        The hallway near the elections office, serving the ground floor of the Clarke Complex, 

              is used for storage of furniture, desks, obsolete equipment, and other materials; this

              practice could cause a hazard in case of an emergency.

 

F-3        Containers of flammable materials were observed on the ground floor.

 

F-4        A significant amount of debris has also accumulated on the ground floor.

 

F-5        It is difficult to see because of insufficient lighting on the ground floor hallway.

 

F-6        Some windows in the main building leak water.

 

F-7       It was reported that some areas of the main building on the ground floor lack proper   security.

             .

F-8        The Eureka Fire Department has not reported fire code violations on their inspections

             of  the Clark Complex.

 

 CONCLUSIONS

 

C-1        The county has not adequately provided for handicap accessibility in the main building.

 

C-2      The county has not effectively managed the fire and safety hazards of this building; this is causing a hazard to county employees,  confined in-patients, and other users of this building.

 

C-3      The county has not effectively disposed of obsolete and unusable material and

            equipment.

 

C-4       The county is not effectively maintaining the Clark Complex.

 

C-5       The Eureka Fire Department is not effectively inspecting the Clark Complex.

 

  

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GRAND JURY RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING:

 

R-1        The County  meet ADA access standards at the main building of the Clark

              Complex.

 

R-2        The County comply with all fire and safety regulations at the Clark Complex.

 

R-3        The County remove all obsolete materials, equipment, debris, and other materials

              from the Clark Complex.

 

R-4         The County bring the Clark Complex up to building , fire and safety codes

              or consider other options for these county offices.    

 

R-5         The Eureka Fire Department review its fire inspection procedures regarding the Clark

              Complex.

 

RESPONSES

 

THE FOLLOWING RESPONSES TO REPORT 01-13 ARE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO

P.C. 933 AND THE STANDARD FORMAT FOR RESPONSES.

 

1.          The Board of Supervisors respond to all findings and recommendations.

 

2.         The Department Head of Administrative Services Division respond to all recommendations    and findings.

 

3.         The City of Eureka respond to findings F-2, F-3, F-4, and F-8 and to recommendations R-3, R-4, and R-5.