JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The City of Jackson expects to hire a contractor to clean Thalia Mara Hall by October 14.

In early August, the city was forced to close Thalia Mara Hall after “early microbial activity” was discovered following a recent malfunction with the HVAC controller in the facility.

According to the report by the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO), mold was found in the facility, and human waste was found on the balcony. The report also found that some fire extinguishers were not up to date. The city submitted an action plan to fix the issues found in the report.

Jackson leaders said their action plan includes replacing extension cords, repairing the fire alarm system, updating the fire extinguishers, and replacing missing ceiling tiles. They said mold remediation services are being scheduled, and sanitation staff has been assigned to clean the area were human waste was found.

Jackson officials said they will continue to coordinate with the necessary contractors and internal staff to ensure the issues are addressed.