City gifts rescue squad

BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Inez City Commission voted unanimously in a special meeting Thursday to keep the property tax rate at 9.2 cents per $100 for FY 2022-2023.

Mayor Ed Daniels conducted the second reading of the tax ordinance, and commissioners voted without discussion.

The rate applies to real, personal and tangible property. 

Rex Endicott of Martin County React & Rescue asked the city’s permission to limit Whickerfield Road to local traffic during trick-or-treating Monday night as usual.

“We don’t want to take a chance of someone coming through there and running over the kids,” Endicott said. “I want to know how you all feel about doing that again this year.”

Endicott expects to block both ends of Whickerfield and place traffic control units at the traffic light next to the old courthouse and the community center.

The commissioners gave Endicott their blessing and followed with a $1,000 donation.

“They do a good job. For emergencies, nine times out of 10, they’re the first to arrive,” said Commissioner Dennis Hall. “They operate on limited funds also, and since we gave the fire department a donation, I think it’s only fair that we give Martin County Rescue Squad a donation.”

Hall made the motion to give the rescue squad $1,000, and the commission agreed.

Commissioner Terry Fraley stated that during his 22 years in the ambulance business, he depended on Martin County React & Rescue.

“We could always depend on you to come out and give us lifting assistance or whatever we needed to get the job done,” Fraley said. “You all are overlooked so many times in this county, and you do a great job here. You’re the unsung heroes.”

Fraley added that Endicott needed more support to help the rescue squad grow and get what it needed to keep doing the job.

The city also voted to adopt two streets into its road plan, Boardwalk and Kentucky Avenue. The two streets provide access from Main Street to several businesses between the post office and Callaham Funeral Home.