Long standing leaks at the Harlan County Detention Center was a topic for discussion at a recent meeting of the Harlan Fiscal Court. Magistrate Bill Moore said leaks in the roof are increasing and repairs need to be made as soon as possible.

“I’ve been trying ever since I’ve been on board to get the jail fixed,” said Moore. “From my understanding it has leaked ever since it was built.”

Harlan County Jailer Curt Stallard said the jail has leaks throughout the building.

“It’s leaking in the laundry room and so much water is coming from underneath two dryers it looks like a pipe has busted,” said Stallard. “We had some guys come up last week and work on it, but I couldn’t tell you if it is leaking less because we’ve had so much more rain. We put new ceiling up and it’s already destroyed. Water is running down the walls. I was going to have the carpet cleaned, but I didn’t because rusty water is running onto it.”

Grieshop said he contacted Stallard after the heavy rains to see if the work done recently had been successful.

“Apparently it’s still leaking,” said Grieshop. “We’re going to have to go really broad to solve this problem, which would be a roof that would come over the metal.”

Magistrate David Kennedy said he has also been “pushing to have the jail fixed” since he has been magistrate.

“What the problem is the contractor who did the work up there is no longer in business — they filed bankruptcy,” said Kennedy. “We’ve limped along and limped along trying to get that fixed up there and we’ve had several different people look at it. I’m just as supportive of the jail as I am the Benham School House Inn. It’s all county buildings and county property and we’ve got to fix both of them. The money is just the big issue. It’s just all happening during a terrible time. “

Stallard said there are “buckets sitting everywhere when it rains.”

“We need to designate money specifically for these leaks at the jail,” said Kennedy.

In other court action:

* Held a moment of silence for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing;

* Approved Harlan County Sheriff’s settlement audit, 2011 unmined coal taxes from July 17, 2011 to July 16, 2012 and 2011 taxes from April 17, 2011 to April 16, 2012;

* Accepted bids from Mountain Construction and Kentucky Mine Supply for road materials and Mountain Enterprises Blacktop, of Lexington, for asphalt;

* Tabled purchase of HAZ-MAT tent until more information may be obtained;

* Tabled purchase of 2014 three-quarter ton Chevrolet truck for the county garage until more information may be obtained;

* Set next fiscal court meeting for May 15 at 10 a.m.;

* Approved Harlan County Detention Center’s policies and procedures manual;

* Approved second reading of budget amendment;

Court went into executive session and returned with no action taken.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510, ext. 115, nsizemore@civitasmedia.com