State Senator Aric Nesbitt is turning up the heat on state Health and Human Services officials for what he called “the quiet shutdown” of the MDHHS offices in Benton Harbor. Nesbitt is asking questions after employees were sent home and crews called in to eradicate what we were told is a problem with black mold in the relatively new building.
WSJM News first reported on the situation last week, and MDHHS officials have been slow to fill in the details on the safety issues for employees and the timetable, if any, for repairs to the office building located at 401 Eighth Street.
Senate Republican Leader Nesbitt of Porter Township represents Benton Harbor and issued this statement late Wednesday:
“I find it very troubling to learn from local media that the MDHHS office in Benton Harbor has been closed for the past two weeks — allegedly because of mold issues — and more than 170 state employees are working from home or other sites with minimal information shared with the community and nondescript notices posted at the location. Even more concerning is my office learned of this from local media, rather than the department itself. This is completely unacceptable.”
Employees were informed of the contamination and told to stay out of the office and work in alternative locations while the issue is resolved. According to one employee, people started working remotely about two weeks ago.
Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for the MDHHS provided the following statement last week:
“To address a facility-related issue at the Benton Harbor Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) office, the office is currently closed. To ensure Berrien County families can continue to access the resources they need, staff are providing services via phone at 269-934-2000 or 844-864-3447 and online at MIBridges. In addition, office hours are available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Benton Harbor Michigan Works, 499 West Main Street in Benton Harbor. A reopening date for the MDHHS Benton Harbor office has not been determined.”
A spokesperson for Sen. Nesbitt confirmed the Republican Leader is reaching out to the agency for answers as to why the public was not informed about the closure or adequately redirected to where services might be obtained.
Sen. Nesbitt concluded, “Like any taxpayer-funded government agency, MDHHS has a duty to operate in the light of day and be fully transparent and open to the communities it is charged to serve. My office will work diligently to get answers for the people of Benton Harbor and Southwest Michigan who are most affected by this situation.”
Employees have indicated to WSJM that they are either working from home or at temporary offices in the Michigan Works! building at Main & Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor.
