Library board bringing balloon rides to festival

BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Tethered hot air balloon rides are coming to the Harvest Festival in September.

Martin County Public Library board members approved director Kendra Fletcher’s hot air balloon proposal at their July 25 meeting.

“The total would be $4,500,” Fletcher told board members, adding that the library could incorporate a theme and consider charging a fee.

Board member Maurice Mills asked if the balloon rental company, Liberty Balloon, had looked at the parking lot to see if there would be enough space.

“They have to have a space of 150 by 150,” Mills said. “The balloon, when it goes up, is 60 feet in diameter and is as tall as a seven-story building, so there has to be plenty of room for it to do what it needs to do.”

Fletcher said the parking lot is preferable, but the soccer field could be an option.

The tethered ride can carry three or four adults at a time (up to 650 pounds), goes up to 50-70 feet off the ground and takes 3-5 minutes.

The attraction will be for two hours at sunset Sept. 16 and could accommodate about 100 passengers in that timeframe.

Fletcher said the library would schedule the rides.

“Martin County Coal had one years ago when they had their family day,” board member Willa Preston remarked. “It was a constant line of people to get on it…I enjoyed it.”

Mills noted the first $500 is a non-refundable date reservation fee, but Liberty Balloon would refund the remaining funds in the event of rain.

“I think it would be interesting,” commented Mills.

“It’s a thrilling thing,” said Preston. “Even though it was tethered when I went up in it, I was amazed at how much I could see. I think the public would like it.”

Mills said the hot air balloon would be a way to give something back to the community.

“The Harvest Fest this year is going to be humongous,” added Mills. “Speaking as a Kiwanis member, the Kiwanis is trying to get some rides. They’re very expensive, but we’re working on trying to get some rides in.”

The board will discuss the admission fee later and finalize plans.

In other business, the board:

• Heard board member Denise Stepp’s suggestion for a family fun day.

“I’d like to see us do a Saturday, like from 10 to 12, family fun day, and play games out in the parking lot,” Stepp said, adding that she would like to get the Martin County Cooperative Extension office involved. “We used to do that.”

Preston voiced her pleasure with the Martin County Soccer team’s recent 50s-themed dinner and movie fundraiser at the library.

“That was really cute,” said Preston. “I didn’t know what it was for. We need more things like that.”

• Voted to pay the monthly bills.

• Agreed to keep the motor vehicle tax rate at 4.5 cents per $100 assessed value for 2023.

• Approved submitting a $735,900 budget for the fiscal year 2022-2023 to the Kentucky Department for Local Government.

• Approved three staffing positions: media services manager/program coordinator, early childhood librarian and part-time facilities manager/clerk. Fletcher explained that most of the current staff are students who would be leaving to return to school. She will use the applications that she has on file.

• Heard from Fletcher about the library’s genealogy room and upcoming events.

“We finally have all of our genealogy collection moved here,” announced Fletcher. “The room is ready. We have started moving some of the furniture from my old office upstairs. The room was painted and looks so much better. Now we just need to get it all organized and put in its place.”

Fletcher added that the computer lab was also ready.

“We just have to get the printer hooked up,” she said.

Fletcher told board members the library would participate in the Back to School Bash set for 7-9 p.m. Aug. 8 behind the courthouse.

The library will celebrate local author Sandy Coleman’s book, “Going to Granny’s,” with an event Aug. 5 at 11 a.m. The “Local Author Spotlight” will kick off at the Storybook Walk on the Inez Walking Trail and continue to the gazebo on Main Street for storytime with Coleman.

“At the end of her book, she talks about making mud pies,” said Fletcher. “I thought that would be so cute for the kids to make edible mud pies. I would love to see a good turnout.”

At 7 p.m. Aug. 5, the library will partner with the extension office and Linder’s Gymsters in the 2-mile Summer Dash in downtown Inez. Participants can register for free by calling Martika at 606-298-7742.

Preston and other board members asked Fletcher to plan a “welcome back to school” event during the first week of school in Martin County.