13-02-2025
Will Taylor County inmates be relocated during jail roof repair?
TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas () – Will Taylor County need to relocate inmates during a much-needed jail roof repair?
At this week's commissioners court meeting, Taylor County Sheriff Ricky Bishop told commissioners that the jail's roof has been leaking for a long time. Rainwater has made its way into some cells and even into a room housing critical county infrastructure, including computers.
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Commissioner Randy Williams emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, 'We finesse it [the budget] as much as we can possibly finesse it, but in that process, there are things that get kicked down the road. The roof of the jail, we don't really have a choice there. I mean, you've got [the Texas Commission] on Jail Standards saying either fix it or were going to shut you down.'
A previous meeting saw the approval of a bid for the roofing project, with architects assuring commissioners that the jail's 600+ inmates would not need to be relocated. However, as a precaution, the county is considering setting aside $2.5 million in a certificate of obligation in case inmate relocation becomes necessary.
While no vote was taken at the meeting, commissioners discussed the following considerations for the potential certificate of obligation:
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Bishop cautioned that once workers remove the top layer of the jail's roof, unforeseen issues could arise, making it essential to have those funds available as a backup.
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