Hopkins County Courthouse will receive a new slate roof soon. Commissioners opened bids Friday morning at the Hopkins County Courthouse. The contract will receive final approval in a meeting of the court Wednesday, January 4, 2017. The new roof will cost $600.000 of which all but $10,000 will be paid by insurance. The $10,000 is the deductible on the insurance.
Commissioners had approved a contract with an individual who stated he and his company was a member of the buy board but it was later found that he had applied but had not, as yet, been approved. The court went out for bids again and Friday, only one bid, by the same man and company had been received. Newsom said it is hoped that the new roof will take only two to three months to complete. The slate roof should last for a minimum of 30 years and could last as long as 100-years. It is the same material that is used on older buildings in Europe, according to Newsom.
Newsom said he was not sure how many times the roof on the courthouse had been replaced during its lifetime. The original roof was slate. He noted that a synthetic-slate roof that will be removed as the new roof is put in place, has only lasted 30 years. He said the actual slate roof should have a much longer life. Leaks in various areas of the current roof necessitated the new roof.
Newsom said it is possible some of the wood under the roof will need to be replaced due to the leaks.
