BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Martin County Tourism Commission sees the silver lining in the cloud.
The commission met Monday and got an update on work on the historic courthouse to repair damage caused by a fire that broke out April 12 in the east wing.
Tourism chairperson Nita Collier said Servpro had a crew of 22 working in the building.
“They are cleaning from top to bottom,” Collier said. “They are going to repaint everything to get the smell out. They are replacing ceiling tiles throughout the building.”
The ceiling tiles are out now, revealing the building’s original plaster ceilings.
“Just looking at it, I think we’re best to go back with ceiling tiles,” said Collier.
The commission was expecting a construction crew to arrive Tuesday.
The chairperson hopes crews can straighten the antique steel window frames that bowed outward during the fire. She plans to replace broken window glass with new glass panels.
“Taking those windows out – that’s part of the structure of the building, and I don’t want to do that,” said Collier.
The county’s insurance is covering the repair costs.
“As bad as that was, it’s going to be a benefit to us,” said Collier.
“They’re going to clean the front of the building. It’s a blessing in disguise. These are things that we struggled with and talked about.”
Contractors should complete the job in three months, according to Collier.
“It’s all coming together, oddly, but good,” she said.
Collier commended the fire departments for their quick response.
Mural, signage, lake updates
Collier showed commissioners a tourism logo that Susan Fannin designed.
She also announced plans for a mural on the Cain Hotel/Stayton Building had changed.
“We’ve had to move from Lisa’s building, unfortunately, but we do have another building,” said Collier, adding that the owner would look at a mural designed by Susan Fannin and then decide. “At least that’s an option.”
The commission plans to place a billboard-type sign against the hill at the Kermit Bridge. Collier said retired art teacher Rossalene Cox is designing the art for the sign.
The commission discussed a project for the Martin County Lake on Milo Road. A designer is working on a rendering for a walking trail, a swinging bridge, playground equipment and a picnic area.
The lake plan is part of the University of Kentucky Centers for Disease Control and Prevention High Obesity Program.
Christmas in the Mountains
Commissioner Linda Lou Webb gave an update on Christmas in the Mountains, saying the end-of-year balance was $9,400.
“That’s the most that we’ve carried over, ever, but we have huge bills,” Webb said. “We’ve already asked the skating rink to come back. It was a huge success.”
The skating rink will be in town for an additional day for the 2023 festival and will cost $7,000.
Webb said the Christmas in the Mountains committee recently met and welcome new member Jack Ward.
The 2023 main festival day will be on the first Saturday in December.
“We’ll have something on Friday night,” said Webb. “We would love to get the horse and carriage back if we can get a sponsor. That’s why I wanted to come to this committee and ask that you all might think about sponsoring. I know last year you gave us $1,300, and we put it toward music, the inflatables and the train.”
Webb hopes to find three new sponsors to pay for music, inflatables and the train so the tourism commission can sponsor the horse and carriage.
“We won’t get all of our money back, but we’ll get half,” said Webb.
The CIM committee is planning fundraisers and soliciting sponsors. She has approached Martin County Fiscal Court but has not received an answer.
Webb is also working to secure carnival rides.