BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The old Grassy School is fated for demolition, but the Martin County Fiscal Court must first remove asbestos, lead paint and other hazardous materials from the structure.
Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty recently discussed the results of the June 16-21 survey conducted by Tetra Tech Inc., confirming the building is contaminated with asbestos, lead-based paint and other hazardous materials.
Lafferty noted that Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills applied for help from the Kentucky Brownfield and Cleaner Commonwealth programs, which paid for the study. Kentucky Brownfield will also pay the demolition and cleanup cost of $102,000.
“We started talking about the need to have Grassy Park and that building cleaned up,” Lafferty said. “It’s a health hazard – a place that might be attractive to kids. It’s a snake den and a place the county should have cleaned up long ago.”
The dilapidated structure, built in the 1960s, stands as a relic with its walls intact despite the collapsed roof and floors covered in soil and foliage. Residents in the area have voiced concern to District 3 Magistrate Tracy Spence over the safety of the old building, saying it was attracting kids and others.
Before any demolition, the county deemed a survey necessary due to the risks of handling asbestos-laden materials. This investigation revealed that 56% of samples yielded positive results for asbestos, with 51% indicating the presence of lead-based paint.
“So we had the study done, and lo and behold, it has asbestos in it,” said Lafferty, stressing the gravity of the situation. “The survey’s findings are significant; they highlight the potential health risks present in the old building. Knowing this, we’re obligated to clean it up, regardless. We don’t have an option; it has to be done.”
With the revelations triggering compliance with state and federal guidelines for the appropriate removal and disposal of the tainted material, the county is seeking brownfield and other grant funding for the remediation.
Qualified professionals licensed in Kentucky for asbestos abatement will undertake the material’s removal. Subsequently, it will be dispatched to an appropriate disposal facility.
“We will contract to remove this threat from the Grassy community safely,” stated Lafferty. “We’re steadfast in that resolution.”
Judge shares future
plans for parks
On a brighter note, Lafferty shared future plans.
“Once cleared, we hope to build a community center as the next phase at Grassy Park. That’s our plan.”
Lafferty and the fiscal court are contemplating enhancements across all county parks, including upgrades at Warfield Park and introducing a splash pad at the Martin County Swimming Pool.
“We plan to do both the splash pad and the swimming pool in Inez,” said Lafferty. “The Fiscal Court is behind me on this. We’re going to fix our parks – Warfield, Pigeon Roost, Grassy, Tomahawk and Inez. We’re invested.”
The administration also wants to capitalize on the Tug River’s potential, prioritizing cleanup of Martin County’s stretch of the river.
“It’s a beautiful wild river that people use for fishing and kayaking,” said Lafferty. “It needs to be cleaned up.”