Colorado has a problem with homeless people using the library to smoke meth in. A second warehouse for books, this time in Englewood, was closed to the meth smoking public “after methamphetamine contamination was detected.”
Another meth tainted library
The library in Boulder still hasn’t fully reopened and now Englewood is reporting on Wednesday, January 11, that “test results showed the restrooms exceed state thresholds for meth contamination.”
Other spaces in the building “tested positive for a lower level and require special cleaning.” They called in the pros for an evaluation after what happened in Boulder.
According to city officials, the library will be closed along with the “north Civic Center lobby and second-floor restrooms in the Civic Center.” All the facilities will be shut “until the contamination is resolved.” As noted by City Manager Shawn Lewis, “the health and safety of our staff, residents and patrons is of the utmost importance to all of us at the City of Englewood.” Even the meth smokers.
The city @NewsEnglewoodCO temporarily closing the public library/parts of the civic center after discovering meth contamination. Englewood Parks and Rec's Christina Underhill joined @MartyLenz_KOA and @KOAJeana on CMN. https://t.co/piC1BERyayhttps://t.co/GBdtrg0PJc
— KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (@KOAColorado) January 12, 2023
Nobody actually reads the books anymore. “With this in mind, we decided to proactively conduct testing in our library and other Civic Center locations to ensure safety for all.” They flunked.
When they got the report card, they were afraid to show it to the public. “The test results we received today are troubling, and we immediately began working to remediate affected spaces with the goal of reopening the library as soon as possible.”
It’s cold out there and they know the homeless rely on them for shelter. “We want to thank our valued library patrons for their patience as we work to ensure our library is safe for everyone.”
Over 100k to clean up Boulder
The renovation work in Boulder is estimated to run more than $100,000. They weren’t able to open fully on January 4, as they hoped, but started opening up a little. They’re able to allow the few people who actually want to read a book to pick up ones which were placed on reservation ahead of time.
It’s not clear if they are swabbing the books for contamination before they go out the door or whether that’s up to the reader.
Boulder discovered their problem back on December 20, when the levels of meth coming through the air vents got so bad two staffers were sent to the Emergency Room. After the testing showed how bad it was, they decided that every other library needs to be tested, too.
Meth contamination closes Englewood Public Library. The city decided to test for the substance after the Boulder Public Library closed last month. @ToriMasonTV & I talk to Englewood city officials about the closure and what's next for the library – @CBSNewsColorado 10pm. pic.twitter.com/kqoNMJgWP3
— Mark Neitro (@CBS4Mark) January 12, 2023
Nobody is saying if any others besides Englewood have been checked yet. The cleanup there will probably be a lot like what happened in Boulder.
After the contractor’s report confirmed the Boulder library had most of the problem in the restrooms, they still had to remediate “some surface contamination in heavily-used seating areas.” They threw the furniture in the trash and “the restrooms will be given a thorough cleaning.”
Local homeless meth smokers aren’t happy to hear that “Public restrooms at the Boulder library won’t be available until that work is completed.” Everyone wonders how long it will take before it needs to be decontaminated again.
