Following a short period of closure due to mold concerns, the Shelby County Clerk's Office in Whitehaven has reopened its doors to the public as of this morning. According to Action News 5, the concerns were triggered by the presence of black mold in the building, prompting an apology from Clerk Wanda Halbert for any inconvenience caused to the general public.
Further details released by Local Memphis indicated that Tennessee OSHA (TOSHA) was notified of the issue on September 16, following which a 'mold letter' was issued, although TOSHA clarified they did not partake in any closure actions. In a social media post, Halbert highlighted the responsibility of the office to "protect and serve all citizens/customers," reassuring that their safety, as well as that of the team, is of utmost priority.
Contrary to the initial reports, Wanda Halbert assured through a social media statement obtained by WREG that there is, in fact, no mold inside the office unit. "There was an internal County Clerk report regarding potential, unseen mold; however, that has NOT been confirmed," Halbert affirmed, adding that her team is actively seeking a resolution in collaboration with local and state officials.
Residents of the area expressed mixed reactions to the office's reopening. According to a WREG interview, Lisa Martin, a resident of Whitehaven, compared her experience with the clerk's office favorably against another location, saying, "Oh, God. Jesus. Slowest wait ever, so right here has been fine." Meanwhile, Bartlett resident Wendy Saulsberry stated her hope for a quick visit, "I'm hoping to get out of here in no more than 40 minutes today."
In addition to the mold concern, the Whitehaven Clerk's Office is facing another issue as the city of Millington announced that Halbert's office owes $30,000 in unpaid rent for the Millington branch. As of now, there's been no response from Halbert about this matter, with WREG noting they are still awaiting a reply.
