‘Taxpayers should not pay’

BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County District 2 Magistrate Roger Preece believes taxpayers should not foot the bill to repair county roads that commercial timber harvesting companies damage. During the Martin County Fiscal Court meeting Thursday, the magistrate was the lone voice opposed to a mere oral agreement with a company that had already damaged county roads.

“These people in logging need to bond the roads,” Preece said. “If their bond stands good for it, they will worry about the roads and keep their dozers off the road. Why should taxpayers take care of somebody making money?”

The topic arose when Martin County Judge/Executive Colby Kirk informed magistrates that Pigeon Roost Road had been damaged by logging activities. The judge stated that he and Deputy Judge/Executive Eric Phelps had visited the site.

“We sent road and bridge up there to make repairs,” said Kirk.

The judge also told magistrates that Phelps had sat down with Brian Jude, owner of the logging company Coalfield Lumber that is logging on Pigeon Roost.

“They have kind of made a promise to us that they’re going to assist in the upkeep of that road,” said Kirk. “And for the time being, we’re going to hold them to that promise. But I’ll come back to you with an update if we find that that’s not the case.”

Kirk said the court could vote to require a bond on the road.

“There are certain actions that the road foreman and the judge can take, according to state laws as well,” he added. “So we’ll explore those options.”

According to Kirk, Coalfield Lumber orally agreed to assist the county in upkeeping the road so it would be safely passable.

“We’re going to maintain the ditch line to help get water off the road, so it’s not so saturated,” said the judge.

“If we find the road in a condition that is not satisfactory for myself or the road foreman, then we’ll take additional action, and I’ll request that through the court.”

The other magistrates sat in silence while Preece spoke up on the issue.

Preece pointed out that Coalfield Lumber damaged Preece Hollow in 2019 after the owner agreed with former Judge/Executive Bill Davis that the company would make repairs. According to Preece, the repairs never happened.

“That bunch came up Preece Hollow, trammed their dozer or whatever up and down the road,” said Preece. “You can go up there and look. It’s still torn all to pieces.

The magistrate said the county had to install a drain on Preece Hollow in 2019 due to the situation with the road causing damage to private property.

Preece told Kirk that other counties require bonds.

“I think Martin County ought to move up,” added Preece.

“If you feel that way, you’re welcome to make a motion,” said Kirk.

Preece made the motion to require bonds.

Magistrate Mark Blackburn asked if that was something the court could do “tonight.”

“We probably need to draft an ordinance,” commented Kirk.

Assistant county attorney Lynette Muncy said the court would need an ordinance along with an amount for the bond and the value of the road.

“Well, why don’t we get a bid on blacktopping Preece Hollow where they tore it up and for our pipe, the men going up there working and the equipment?” suggested Preece. “Instead of just setting it at $1,000, set it at an amount to replace that road.

“The taxpayers should not pay for these people,” he added. “When we fix that road, somebody else will do without that blacktop because we’re taking care of this road. This money is being spent. I think it should have been done years ago.”

Preece said that in 2019 he took his concern about damage occurring to Preece Hollow to the county attorney’s office.

“Somebody is going to have to do something sometime,” concluded Preece.

Kirk said he would draft an ordinance and bring it to the next fiscal court meeting.

Preece told the Mountain Citizen the county spent at least $5,000 to replace the drain pipe on Preece Hollow in 2019.

Warfield Park Community Center Board

Warfield Park Community Center Board member Denise Chaffins addressed the fiscal court and stated there had been changes to board members.

“I thought we needed to let the court know that we have removed Ricky Alley from the board as president, and we have added Christie Chaffins and Carolynn Spaulding as board members,” Chaffins said. “So that’s pretty much the changes we have on there right now.”

Kirk immediately recommended the court vote on the appointments, which the magistrates approved.

According to Chaffins, the board plans to host a trunk or treat event, a “huge” Veterans Day dinner, and a Christmas parade and gifts for the children.

“We want to honor our veterans,” said Chaffins. “So any support we can get on that, we appreciate it.”

Kirk thanked Chaffins for the efforts at the park.

“You all do great work,” said Kirk.

Other business

In other business, the court:

• Accepted Martin County Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual report.

• Accepted tax settlements from Martin County Sheriff John Kirk, including standard, additional, gas, oil, franchise, and telecommunications.

• Accepted a bid for the HVAC system in the Martin County Judicial Center from DeBra-Kuempel Inc. for $197,400. Kirk told magistrates the state would have to approve the proposal and reimburse the county the total amount.

• Voted to advertise for contractor bids to rehabilitate the road and bridge garage damaged by flooding July 28. Kirk said the insurance company had Servpro come in and do all the tear-out and mold mitigation.

“It was my understanding that Servpro was supposed to put it back together,” said Kirk. “If you see those commercials, it says, ‘like it never even happened.’ Well, you can still tell it happened.”

According to Kirk, Servpro has been unable to secure a contractor to put it back together.

“Our insurance has given us the go-ahead to advertise it,” said Kirk. “The insurance will cover this. We just have to advertise for a contractor to put it back together.”

• Voted to allow Judge Kirk to establish temporary internet service at the Pigeon Roost Community Center for the November General Election. Kirk reminded magistrates that Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles recently informed them that workers could not communicate with the clerk’s office when a technical issue arose at the Pigeon Roost voting center during the May Primary.