Charlton County officials flag needed repairs: sheriff's roof, Bethune Gym and auditorium issues estimated

The Charlton County Board of Commissioners on June 5 approved a $68,160 contract with Brantley Roofing to replace the Sheriff's Office roof and discussed several community facility problems raised by the public and staff, including the Bethune Gym and the county auditorium. Charles "Bubba" Smith recommended replacing the Sheriff's Office roof; the contract with Brantley Roofing includes roofing the garage. Commissioner James Everett asked if the existing shingles were architectural; Smith said the problem was installation rather than the shingles themselves. The board approved the contract unanimously; Sheriff Phillips told the board the roof is "roughly fifteen years old," and County Attorney John Adams recommended checking the shingles' warranty. During public comments, Elaine Bailey read a letter raising concerns about Bethune Gym conditions, citing lack of centralized air conditioning or heat, inaccessible handicap entrances and parking, and that a recent job fair had to end early because the gym became too hot. Commissioners asked County Administrator Glenn Hull to look at air-conditioning costs for the gym. County Administrator Hull said a preliminary estimate to repair the auditorium is about $230,000; the minutes state the auditorium currently has no working sound system or stage lighting and that there may be a structural roof issue. Rebecca Harden, Director of Administrative Services, confirmed the roof issue had worsened and that the county has canceled upcoming events for safety reasons. Commissioner Drew Jones suggested exploring remedies for the roof and then considering broader auditorium repairs, and noted SPLOST as a possible funding source.