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That plan failed, according to Cayuga County Legislature Chair Aileen McNabb-Coleman, when a follow-up inspection found vermiculite in various parts of the building. 

"It wasn't just in one area," she said. 

McNabb-Coleman, who provided an update at the county Legislature meeting Tuesday, said the inspection occurred during the week of June 10 — two weeks after vermiculite deposits were found in a fifth-floor office. Vermiculite can contain asbestos. 

After closing the building due to the discovery, the county hired an environmental firm for cleaning and sampling. Testing confirmed the substance found in late May was vermiculite. 

County leaders decided the building will be closed until at least the end of August, which aligns with the ongoing roof repairs. The roof was damaged in a January windstorm. 

The county brought in another environmental firm, Mosher Engineering, with two goals, McNabb-Coleman said. The firm would perform comprehensive testing to clear the building, she explained, which would allow employees to retrieve "critical items for operations." It would also identify how vermiculite was getting into the building and develop a containment strategy. 

On the first day, Mosher representatives conducted a visual inspection to determine if vermiculite was present. It did not take them long to see vermiculite in the building. 

"We were very surprised by that outcome and we just have to monitor it and adjust and try to come up with a new plan," McNabb-Coleman said. 

Mosher is preparing a retrieval plan, according to McNabb-Coleman. Certified asbestos abatement contractors will be hired to set up a clean room and decontamination chambers for equipment and materials. This will allow county agencies to get necessary supplies out of the building. 

County employees attended the Legislature meeting. During a brief question-and-answer session, one employee raised concern about long-term exposure to vermiculite in the building. But McNabb-Coleman, citing what she was told by buildings and grounds staff, said the deposits appear to be new. 

McNabb-Coleman lauded county employees for their efforts after the building was closed. Some are working from home or have temporarily relocated to other county-owned facilities. 

The county Legislature approved two resolutions to address the contaminated building, including a $500,000 transfer to cover costs associated with responding to the emergency situation. 

"We have to act, we have to prepare and we're going to continue to update the public," McNabb-Coleman said.