BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court voted during a meeting Thursday to lower the real property tax rate for fiscal year 2022-2023 from 12.9 cents to 11.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Judge/Executive Colby Kirk introduced the agenda item, and District 1 Magistrate Jarred Goforth immediately motioned to set the tax at 11.5 “as it was the year before last.”

“I’ll second that motion,” District 4 Magistrate Junior Hunt said.

Kirk asked if there would be any discussion.

“That would put the court at a deficit next year,” Kirk advised.

“I think that last year we had some confusion when we set the tax rate and none of us was happy with it after the fact,” stated Goforth. “So I think people’s having a hard time, and it’s time to make it right with them. And I know it might be a little struggle with the court at first.”

Kirk informed the court that the compensating tax rate would have been 13.2.

“We all know what compensating tax rate means. Right?” District 5 Magistrate Mark Blackburn asked. “It means the same amount of money. And if we go down, the court’s going to get less money?”

“Yep,” said Hunt.

The new tax rate passed 5-0 in a roll-call vote, creating an approximate $47,000 deficit in the county’s budget.

Kirk said after the meeting that he had planned to keep the tax rate the same.

“It would have been a $9,000 deficit and much easier to overcome in the current budget,” he told the Mountain Citizen.

As Kirk will be leaving office Friday, this was his final meeting as judge/executive, and the Fiscal Court will face the task of amending the budget without him.

“It’s not impossible to overcome but not making it affordable to keep the same level of service moving forward,” said Kirk. “No one wants to pay taxes and no one likes to see them raise, but everyone hates to see services cut.”

Army Corps’ 57-year-old instructions valid

Kirk advised the court that Inez Mayor Ed Daniels had brought a 57-year-old document to him detailing an agreement between the Martin County Fiscal Court and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The documents state that Martin County is responsible for maintaining a dredging project that the Army Corps of Engineers completed on Rockcastle Creek, including Coldwater and Middle Fork, in Inez.

“That was signed three months after the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency,” said Kirk. “So there have been 50 years of environmental laws that have been passed since that time.”

Kirk reached out to the Corps of Engineers for guidance on how to proceed with the maintenance of the creek but has not heard back.

“You know, 50 years ago, they would let us put equipment right down in the creek and clean it out, but I don’t think the state and federal law allows you to do that as much today,” said Kirk. “We maintain brush cutting along the creek, but we’ve not put tracks in the water out of fear of getting fined.”

Preece recalled that as a road worker, he worked on the creek bank under the late Judge/Executive John Callaham.

“The last I know of the county cutting that was under the Lafferty administration,” Preece said. “I think Kelly [Callaham] quit.”

Kirk said the last inspection he found was after the 2004 flood.

The Mountain Citizen also reached out to the Army Corps of Engineers and was directed to Ken Woodard, PE, PMP, Chief of the Plan Formulation Section of the Huntington Branch of the USACE. 

“I recognize that they are about 50 years old now,” said Woodard. “But Martin County should follow the operation and maintenance instructions that were provided upon completion of the project.”

Preece wants ordinance

In last month’s meeting, Preece expressed his wish for the county to adopt an ordinance requiring commercial timbering companies to post bonds before hauling on county roads. The magistrate cited damage to Preece Hollow in 2019 and noted the logger had not reimbursed the county for the approximate $5,000 repair cost. He reminded the court of the company’s recent damage on Pigeon Roost Road.

Assistant County Attorney Lynette Muncy and Kirk agreed to look into potential ordinances and present them at this month’s meeting.

“How about the roads where they’re logging – and the bond on the roads?” asked Preece. “What are we doing?”

“We’re not doing nothing,” said Hunt.

Kirk, who would not be in his position for the second reading of an ordinance next month, said it was something he would trust the next judge/executive to take up if the court sees fit.

Blackburn stated he did not see a need to do anything.

“The logging companies all understand what the laws are,” Blackburn added.

TEK Center

TEK Center Inc. contacted Kirk about using the former trash transfer station next to the Frank Horn Field.

The skilled trade training school is set to open in Inez in early 2023 and hopes to use the former trash transfer station as a proving ground for heavy equipment operator training program.

“It seems like a mutually beneficial agreement,” said Kirk.

The county must advertise bids for the lease, so the court voted to do so. 

Personnel changes

The court entered executive session to discuss personnel. Following the session, the magistrates accepted the resignation of Susan Hale as treasurer, effective Oct. 21.

Kirk recommended Christina Frazier as a replacement with a pay rate of $26 per hour. The court voted to accept this recommendation.

Kirk recommended the court hire his assistant Leann Endicott for the finance officer position with a rate set at $14 per hour.

The court moved to approve this recommendation as well.

Contractor bids

The county did not receive any bids to rehabilitate the Road and Bridge garage and will have to work directly with a contractor moving forward.

At the recommendation of the Auditor’s Office, the county opened up bids for gravel. Led by Judge Kirk, the table calculated the per-load costs of competing quarries owned by Mountain Materials.

Ultimately the court tabled the topic for further discussion.

Other business

The court approved pay for election workers.

The court removed Jordan Wheeler’s name from 911 and fire fee accounts, replacing him with current 911 Director Nick Endicott.

Kirk, who is taking a position as president and CEO of One East Kentucky, effective Oct. 31, said his farewell to the court.

“It’s been a joy to serve with all of you guys on this body,” he said.