BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court is set to purchase the J.B. Triplett Building in Warfield for $76,000. Magistrates approved the expenditure of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation at the request of Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty in a meeting Thursday.
Lafferty stated the county’s goal was to revitalize both Warfield and Inez.
“We’ve started on the Inez side,” Lafferty said. “We have years to complete that, and we want to do the same in Warfield.”
The building located at 9245 Beauty Road adjacent to Warfield Prescription was constructed in 1949. It has served various roles over the years, from housing furniture and clothing stores to functioning as a community center and Bingo hall.
An appraisal conducted by Redd, Brown & Williams of Paintsville for the Martin County Economic Development Authority identified John Triplett as the property owner. The report assessed the property’s “as is” fee simple market value at $76,000 and noted that the building is situated on a 1.39-acre lot.
Lafferty commented on the building’s “excellent” potential for future economic development, aligning it with recent discussions of development for the Tug River.
District 5 Magistrate Ronald Workman shared information from a meeting that took place last week at Warfield Park. Representatives from the Big Sandy Area Development District and the Friends of the Tug Fork River hosted the community discussion, announcing a potential $20 million cleanup and development project for the Tug River.
According to Workman, the plan would include constructing two resiliency buildings—one in Martin County and another in Pike County—to store supplies and serve as an information center. The project goals would include removing tires from the river, creating river access ramps and clearing debris at the Low Water Bridge near the mouth of Calf Creek.
Workman was optimistic.
“The way they discussed it, they’re almost sure we’ll get the funding for this,” he said.
Judge Lafferty mentioned that a $3 million watershed study grant would accompany the project.
“Once that study is complete, we’ll be able to get grant funding to clean up our streams,” added the judge.
In June, the county expended $550,000 of its ARPA allocation to purchase seven properties in downtown Inez.
Sheriff’s Tax Settlement
Magistrates unanimously approved Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s 2023 Tax Settlement.
“Everything that we collected was distributed to the appropriate districts,” Sheriff Kirk informed the court members.
The settlement covered three tax categories: standard (real estate and tangible) and additions, gas and oil, and franchise and telecommunications, along with fire and 911 fees.
Of the total gross tax charges by entities within the county, $3,014,057 was for the school district. The cooperative extension district fetched the second-highest amount at $499,548, followed by $414,311 for the county, $375,296 for the library district and $142,550 for the health district.
The state tax charges, which did not include franchise and telecommunications, totaled $411,553.
In addition, the City of Inez’s tax charges came to $29,785, while the City of Warfield had $9,651.
Fire fees totaled $111,649, and 911 fees amounted to $309,075.
Adams hired as EMS director
The court also welcomed Clyde Adams as the county’s new Emergency Management director and flood control coordinator.
Adams, a 37-year veteran of the Inez Volunteer Fire Department, replaces Kayla May, who recently took a state EM position.
“We think he will do a tremendous job,” Judge Lafferty remarked.
District 1 Magistrate Cody Slone spoke words of appreciation for the former director and welcomed Adams.
Adams thanked the magistrates and the judge for the opportunity.
Road funds, Warfield Park, treasurer’s settlement
In other actions, the court authorized an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for $32,000 in emergency road funds for work on Crum Branch Road.
Workman commented on grading work and improvements behind the community center at Warfield Park. The area had stayed swamped with water for years.
“We’re going to have a big amount of space,” said Workman. “We’re going to try to find money and put in some pickleball courts.”
The court also accepted the treasurer’s annual settlement, though a copy of the report was not available at press time.