BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Inez City Commissioners received good news in a meeting Thursday. Mayor Ed Daniels announced that Columbia Gas had agreed to repair damage to the sidewalk on Main Street and the roadway on Wickerfield.
Daniels said a Columbia Gas representative advised him recently that the company had found a contractor to perform the work.
“He asked me to be patient, and I said, ‘I think we already have,’” Daniels told commissioners. “I know how contractors are—they can’t work in the rain with asphalt and cement, and we’ve had little popup storms for what seems like a month.”
Commissioner Carolyn Horn recently brought attention to the damage and was glad to hear the gas company anticipated doing the work within the week.
“Yay,” Horn said. “I’ve had quite a few call me on those.”
Daniels commended Commissioner Jennifer Wells on the success of the city’s inaugural Appalachian Artist Festival, a one-day event Aug. 4 featuring musicians and visual artists on Court Street.
“There weren’t as many people out in the afternoon as I thought there would be,” Daniels said. “But they hit hard there for about 4-5 hours.”
Wells said she and organizer Phill Barnett had spoken after the festival.
“We agreed that next year we need to wrap it up earlier, about 9:30, instead of having the last [performer] going on,” Wells commented. “That being said, we always believe we should do it on a Saturday because of the parking situation.”
Commissioner Nita Collier and the other commissioners also praised Wells for her work in organizing the festival.
“It was very good,” Collier said. “I know you put so much work into it, and we appreciate it.”
Commissioner Roy Penix commended festival vendors and attendees for using trash receptacles.
“One vendor did leave trash, I noticed the next morning, but they stacked it,” Penix said. “That was taken care of very nicely.”
Penix shared remarks from a Johnson County couple: “They said, ‘Inez is so immaculate.’”
City Clerk Lisa Mollett suggested spring might be a better season for next year’s festival.
“It was so hot,” Mollett said. “And it’s just a month away from the Harvest Festival.”
Wells and the other commissioners agreed to consider spring as a time for the festival.
Collier commented, “We might want to look into renting a big tent to put in front of the stage for shade.”
Commissioners also noted the need to bring bleachers for seating in front of the stage.
Wells revealed that Collier snagged The Webb Twins to perform at Heritage Days, which takes place at the junction of King Fisher and God’s Promise trails in October.
Mollett shared ideas from a recent meeting with Downtown Strategies. Those included regularly featuring artisans in Umbrella Alley, popup shops and selfie stations. The clerk also told commissioners that Delta Dental had donated 150 mouthguards (100 youth-sized and 50 adult-sized). She suggested the city donate those to youth football and soccer.
Finally, Mollett suggested a sensory treat-or-treat at City Hall from 4-6 p.m. and having parents call and schedule time slots for their children.
“We could take five or six at a time,” said Mollett.
Commissioner Horn brought up the two Inez High School state basketball championship signs displayed in the city. One sign is on Route 40 in Donna Cassady’s yard across from Zip Zone; the other is on Middlefork near the extension office.
“They need to be redone because that’s quite important,” said Horn.
Collier agreed to get price estimates and bring those to the next meeting.
The commissioners discussed initiating discussions with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet about changing a 55 mph speed limit sign on Route 40 in front of the post office to a reduced speed.
In other business, the city:
• Voted unanimously to allow the Inez Fire Department to apply for grant funding in the city’s name to pay for fire department equipment.
• Discussed potential cleanup and beautification projects.
• Approved bills.
• Voted to purchase six new office and conference chairs for $159 each.