By Bill Grubb
News Editor

ROGERSVILLE - Although the facility is now open for business there is still some work to be completed on the new Hawkins County Justice Center - taking care of several leaks in the building's new roof.
    Not only do county officials want the problem taken care of, so does Ed Hale, president of Hale Construction.
    "We know we have a leak and we are doing everything we can to find it," Hale said Tuesday afternoon.  "I have four men up on the roof right now working on it and this really isn't the kind of day you want to be up on a roof."
    Hale said while the roof was replaced, several old heating and cooling units were left on the roof and that could be a possible source.
    "We really don't know where it is but we are working to take care of the problem," Hale added.
    Trash cans, a mop and numerous missing or water stained ceiling tiles in the building's lobby were indications of the problem, which was also a topic of discussion at Monday morning's Hawkins County Commission meeting.
    "I was just up there before we met and they have trash cans out in the lobby.  Right now the ladies up there are going crazy trying to mop up leaks," Commissioner Danny Alvis said at the conclusion of the commission meeting.  "How much is still owed and can we withhold that money until this is resolved?"
    County Mayor Crockett Lee said approximately $400,000 has yet to be paid on the Justice Center project.
    The county borrowed $15 million for the Justice Center and Courthouse renovation projects, with more than $12 million spent purchasing and converting the former Kmart building into the Justice Center complex.
    "That is money that we can hold until it (the Justice Center) is acceptable and with a leaking roof it is certainly not acceptable," Lee said.  "If they (Hale Construction) ask for the money it will be denied."
    According to the county mayor, the funds will not be released until the county officially accepts the building, based on the recommendation of project architect Tony Moore and the approval by the county's Building Committee.
    Following the meeting several commissioners visited the Justice Center, including Alvis.
    "I think we ought to withhold payment for a year to see what happens the rest of this winter and summer and to make sure they get the problems fixed," Alvis suggested.  "We don't need to spend all that money on a building that comes with a leaking roof."