BY LISA STAYTON
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Sanitation District representatives held a productive meeting with county leaders signaling a renewed commitment to collaboration in completing repairs to the Inez and Tug Valley sewer treatment plants. Jimmy Don Kerr, chairman of the sanitation board, shared details of the meeting during a sanitation board session May 23.
Kerr, together with Alliance Water Resources managers Craig Miller and Tyler Hall, met the previous week with Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty and Deputy Judge Carolea Mills to discuss the $685,625 Cleaner Water Program funding announced by Gov. Andy Beshear in March. This financial assistance will contribute to the overall treatment plant project cost of $945,000.
“It was a very, very good meeting,” Kerr said. “We talked about water and sewer, but mainly we talked about the grants, some of this money that we’ve had and the projects that we really need to be working on.”
Kerr said sanitation officials would continue to meet with Deputy Judge Mills and keep the lines of communication open.
“They have committed to helping us on the water and sanitation side,” said Kerr. “They’re very interested in helping us move forward.”
Kerr invited other board members to participate in the meetings with the deputy judge. However, he noted that no more than two board members could attend at a time.
Board member Nina McCoy expressed her interest in attending the meetings, seeking clarity on whether all matters would now go through the county.
Kerr clarified that while the county’s support is valued, the sanitation board will continue seeking grant funding independently. He emphasized the potential benefits of collaborating with the county.
“They have access to grant funding, too, so we’re going to try to double-team it,” said Kerr.
The chairman expressed optimism about the future of the partnership with the county.
“I walked out there feeling very positive about working with them moving forward,” said Kerr.
McCoy asked if the project would get the sanitation district into compliance.
“It will hopefully get the Inez plant operating correctly,” Miller stated. “It will not fix all of our problems, but hopefully, it will get the Inez plant at least operating and functioning the way it should.”
McCoy asked about the Saltwell sewer lift station malfunctioning and discharging raw sewage into the stream next to Route 645 in Inez.
“Oh, it’s failed,” said Miller, adding that buying a new pump would cost $40,000.
Kerr said the district and county are working on that issue.
“We will get that fixed, get the sewer plant fixed,” said Kerr.