BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Tourism Board chair Nita Collier started Monday’s meeting by adjusting the agenda.
“I would like to add an executive session,” Collier said. “There are some private property owners and we need to discuss a couple of situations. I think that’s best in executive session. Can I justify that?”
Collier’s board agreed that she could add the executive session since this was not a special meeting of the Tourism Board.
Old business
According to Collier, Josh Ball is in contact with someone who has the Tourism logo. The Tourism Board will be able to use it in official communications and get signs printed once it has been sent electronically.
There are now four wayfinding signs pointing toward significant landmarks and walking trails around the county and three more are on the way.
Community art projects
According to Collier, Susan Fannin is currently designing a mural for the Masonic Lodge. The Masons have agreed to a mural upon their approval of the design.
Martin County Deputy Judge Carolea Mills could not attend Monday’s meeting, but Collier reported that Mills had secured funding to paint the old jail. Tourism plans to paint a mural on the side of the jail that faces the bank using those funds.
Mills also has plans for an umbrella alley like the well-known photo op attractions in Louisville, Frankfort and Pikeville. The community art installation will feature colorful umbrellas strung up between the old jail and courthouse to serve as a splash of color in Inez and provide a dazzling photo backdrop for locals and visitors.
The Historic Courthouse will also be getting a set of fencing leading to the basement entrance to make a place for the “love lock” ceremony encouraged by the building’s wedding venue.
‘Big news coming up’ for trail system
When the county’s trail system came up on the agenda, Collier recommended the board wait until the executive session to discuss it further.
“There’s some big news coming up,” board member Jarrod Slone agreed.
The board resolved without motion to wait until the executive session to discuss the trail system to avoid “jeopardizing” the “big news.”
Historic Courthouse
The Martin County Historic Courthouse continues to undergo renovations. Nine windows will be “refabricated” during the final stages. It will delay the opening of the Courthouse beyond the expected late July date but modernize the building’s main windows and improve the efficiency of the heating and cooling system.
ARO has been assisting with renovations to the historic building this summer and has repaired the building’s sewer and water lines. However, according to Collier, a truck driving over the line has resulted in another break, which they plan to re-repair.
Howell’s got the bid to do the heating and cooling for the main courtroom.
Christmas in the Mountains
Plans are underway for this year’s Christmas in the Mountains celebration, an annual celebration of Christmas in Martin County that has been gaining steam in recent years.
Tourism board member Linda Lou Webb, a lead festival organizer, provided an update on this year’s Christmas in the Mountains. The festival is set for Nov. 26-Dec. 2 in downtown Inez with the main events taking place Dec. 1 and 2. Events will be planned throughout the week leading up to Dec. 1, beginning the preceding Sunday with A Merry Little Christmas Party and the crowning of a new Mr. and Ms. Christmas in the Mountains.
So far, confirmed attractions for this year’s festival include a train, a new carnival with new rides, the return of an ice rink and many traditional favorites.
The board discussed other new plans, including a theatrical performance and carriage ride.
Other business
Fireworks will light the sky and vendors will fill the community center parking lot July 1 in Inez to celebrate Independence Day. Plans for a DJ and activities for kids are in the works. The board approved $150 in advertising for the celebration.
The board spent some time discussing Christmas lights to purchase for the Historic Courthouse and ultimately settled on purchasing $750 worth of lights but did not conduct a vote.
The Tourism Board and Inez City Commission is collaborating on a series of one-day celebrations of summer, each one including a free concert featuring several local artists and food and craft vendors. The first of these mini-festivals is planned for Aug. 4.