Overton Jail Roof Repair Set For January Discussion

Bids received for roof repairs at the Overton County Jail, with approval set for later this month.

Overton County Sheriff John Garrett said that the county’s jail needs the work. Garrett said there have been failures in certain spots, causing leaks. Garrett said that the roof has been repaired multiple times.

“That roof is lord knows how old because that portion of the building was actually transformed from the old National Guard Armory,” Garrett said. “So that flat roof has been there for years upon years, I mean decade upon decade.”

Garrett said the roof is showing signs of failure. Garret said that while the damage is not significant yet, the situation will worsen over time and will eventually lead to a complete failure. Garrett said that protecting the people and preserving important records are his top concerns.

“There is a lot of important records, a lot of tools, computers, keyboards, things of that nature,” Garrett said. “Evidence that can be ruined if we have a failure on that flat roof and we are starting to have some failures.”

Garrett said that while the bid has not been approved yet, the roof needs to be replaced as soon as possible.

“The front portion of our building, there’s an area there that leaks whenever there is extremely heavy rain,” Garrett said. “We have to be very mindful there we have to keep someone over there constantly checking on it to make sure there is no water build on the floor.”