BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court announced a public hearing on the real property tax rate, approved HUD loans for Riverside residents and advanced several development projects in a meeting Thursday.
The court voted to advertise a public hearing on the real property tax rate for 1 p.m. Oct. 12 to keep its current tax rate of 11.5 cents per $100 of valuation for fiscal year 2024. Since 11.5 is more than the compensating rate of 11.3, which would produce the same revenue as last year, the court has to conduct a public hearing to allow residents to share their concerns.
The court voted to set tax rates for both watercraft and motor vehicles at 14.5 cents per $100 of valuation.
A real property tax rate of 11.5 cents per $100 would generate just $325,000, while the watercraft tax will bring $4,766 and motor vehicle tax $157,205.
“Folks, we are operating on a shoestring budget here,” Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty said, noting the county’s tax rate is lower than the special districts in the county.
HUD loans to
Riverside residents
The court approved a HUD loan program for families at Riverside to assist them in establishing utility services.
“In the Riverside Apartments, there are 22 families, four families of which have young children and do not have the money to have their water hooked up. We have a situation where we have public housing and families with young children with no running water,” said Lafferty. “There are monies through HUD available to provide these people with zero percent loans. They can borrow the money, have their water hooked up, and then repay that in monthly payments. It is at no cost to the court.”
Sewer project
In other business, the court chose Prime Engineering for a sewer improvement project in the Davella area.
Eric Ratliff, director of Big Sandy Area Development District, told the court that he applied for HB9 funding to match the $3.1 million congressional direct spending money the court received earlier in the year. Ratliff said he was confident the HB9 money would come through. However, he said the court could use the remaining $2.1 million to correct troubled sewer lift stations, such as the one at Saltwell Road.
“We can add those lift stations to the project,” Ratliff remarked.
EDA grant
The Court adopted a resolution authorizing an application for $110,000 from the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet. The money will assist the Martin County Economic Development Authority’s renovation of its industrial spec building formerly occupied by tiny-home manufacturer Boxvana on Honey Branch in Debord.
Martin County Deputy Judge/Executive and EDA Director Carolea Mills explained the EDA received a grant for $110,00. With the county’s matching $110,000, the EDA will have $220,000 to spend on restoring the building to a marketable condition.
Road funding and salt
Two county roads will get new asphalt. Judge Lafferty announced the county was one of 42 local governments approved for discretionary road funds by Gov. Andy Beshear.
Martin County’s amount is $64,000 for resurfacing two roads – Wooten Fork and Little Blacklog.
Earlier in the year, the county received $64,000 to pave Ground Hog Holler and Calf Creek.
“I must compliment my staff because most counties in the area did not get it,” Lafferty remarked.
The court approved an agreement with the Kentucky Department of Highways for road salt. The estimated cost of 200 tons of salt at $106.46 per ton, $1.42 handling per ton, and a one-time administrative fee of $97.15 comes to $21,673.
“This gives us the ability to buy all the salt that we need and be prepared for the upcoming winter,” said Lafferty.
Other business
In other business, the court:
• Corrected a surplus property situation in which the county disposed of real property previously sold to Nancy Dillon in Lovely.
• Appointed Eric Mills to the Martin County Housing Authority Board.
• Accepted a bid from J & M Monitoring for the Grassy School demolition. (See related story.)
• Conducted the first reading of a new solid waste management and nuisance ordinance. (See related story.)