Lima panel discusses lead abatement

LIMA — Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith shared three key messages about lead abatement at Wednesday’s Let’s Talk Lead conference: get the facts, get your child tested and get your home tested.

The panel gathered representatives from the city, Allen County, the West Ohio Community Action Partnership and Lead Safe Ohio contractors to discuss the presence of lead in the Lima community and how residents can prevent serious health effects caused by lead exposure.

“There is no safe level of lead in the body,” Allen County Health Commissioner Brandon Fischer said. “It causes problems in children under the age of 6 and even adults.”

Fischer said homes built before 1978 have an increased risk of lead, and that includes about half the homes in the county.

WOCAP housing coordinator Vance Cuthrell said even if a home built before 1978 was remodeled, there would still be a risk of lead.

Carmillia Zion, director of housing and neighborhoods for Lima, said the city has partnered with WOCAP to intake, as well as with local health agencies to do testing for children under the age of 6.

“We currently have 21 units completed or in processing,” Cuthrell said. “We also have a program to cover the cost of training for contractors to be certified by the state as lead abators.”

The city is also offering free lead service line replacement through a program that has confirmed 574 cases and sent consent forms to 546 people.

“We have already replaced 346 lead lines and are changing out private or public lines for free,” deputy director of utilities for the city Sara Weekley said.

Director of utilities Mike Caprella said he expects all lead lines to be replaced in 10 years thanks to new regulations.

“There is a lot of money being put out there for this,” he said.

For more information on the WOCAP Lead Safe Program and the Lima Lead Service Line Replacement program, visit bit.ly/3YDDnpS and bit.ly/3NCUyRP.

Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.