Major improvements under way at Hale County Jail
It’s been almost six months since WVUA 23 News visited the Hale County Courthouse and Hale County Jail in Greensboro, where roof leaks were bringing major health concerns alongside eyesore complaints.
Now, repair work at the jail has begun and courthouse repairs are on the way.
At the Hale County Jail on Tuesday, 10 to 15 workers were replacing the roof last updated in 1999.
Jail Administrator Mary Gilmore said there were numerous leaks inside the jail, creating a concerning health environment for staff and inmates.
“We had buckets sitting in the dorms, and that was a big liability,” Gilmore said. “We presented it to the commissioner, and they were all in. ”
The jail’s $646,000 repair bill is being paid for by the American Rescue Plan, and Eskola Roofing and Water Proofing in Tennesse is carrying out the work.
A crew member said the work should be completed within the next few weeks as long as the weather cooperates.
The Hale County Courthouse is also getting some much-needed repairs, but supply delays mean the work is delayed, too.
“Every time we have a heavy rain, it would rain in the courthouse and the courtroom,” Hale County Administrator Sylvia Williams said. “You can see how the water has damaged the walls and it had begun to reach the bottom floor. That was a great need for the safety of our employees, the safety of our constituents coming in. There was a great need for these repairs.”
Hale County Probate Judge Arthur Crawford told WVUA 23 conditions have gotten a lot worse over the years.
The American Rescue Act is providing $868,000 for the courthouse repairs, and Roofing Solutions LLC in Louisiana will be providing the work.
“Hale county received $2.8 million (in American Rescue Act funds),” Williams said. “So once we took care of our employees, we in turn looked at the needs of the county.”
City leaders and residents like said they’re elated for these incoming improvements.
“I think that it would make the employees feel better,” Williams said. “It would make them feel like they are coming into a safer environment. As well as the public that we serve.”
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