A TENNESSEE JAIL INSPECTOR HAS LOOKED OVER THE CARTER COUNTY JAIL ONCE AGAIN AND HAS FOUND MANY AREAS IMPROVEMENT, BUT THE TWO BIGGEST PROBLEMS OF OVERCROWDING AND UNDERSTAFFING, STILL REMAIN. THE JAIL WAS DECERTIFIED BY THE BOARD OF CONTROL LAST AUGUST AFTER A FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION. SINCE THAT TIME, NEWLY ELECTED SHERIFF CHRIS MATHES AND CHIEF DEPUTY RON STREET HAVE WORKED TO SECURE FUNDING FOR RENOVATIONS, CLEANING, AND REPAINTING. INSPECTOR MELODY GREGORY SAID DESPITE ALL THE WORK, THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM CONTINUES TO BE OVERCROWDING. IT’S UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF SHE WILL RECOMMEND A CHANGE IN THE JAIL’S CERTIFICATION STATUS. IN THE MEANTIME, THE COUNTY COMMISSION’S JAIL TASK FORCE IS CONSIDERING TWO SETS OF DRAWINGS FOR A PLANNED NEW JAIL. BIDS ON BOTH PLANS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ACCEPTED SOON.