Mathews County Social Services has temporarily relocated to the Mathews County Administration Building because of mold in the heating and air conditioning system at its facility on Church Street. On Tuesday, the Mathews County Health Department, which shares the human services building, was also in the process of searching for temporary quarters, and expected to be out of the building by this coming Monday.

County administrator Steve Whiteway said that Social Services director JoAnn Wilson-Harfst noticed an increase in dust accumulation around vents about a month ago, accompanied by a strange smell, and she reported it to his office. The county contracted with Bay Restoration of Kilmarnock to run tests, and the company found mold in the duct work.

Air cleaners were brought in and heavy-duty filters called air scrubbers were installed to pull mold out of the offices while tests were being run and estimates were being accepted for the work, said Whiteway. Staff members were still i...