BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — In a major shift, Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty appointed two new faces to the Martin County Utility Board, replacing members Jimmy Don Kerr, the chairman, and BJ Slone.
The move signals a new chapter for the county as it navigates critical infrastructure challenges.
Lafferty announced the appointments during Thursday’s fiscal court meeting, emphasizing that the county had been plagued with water and sewer infrastructure issues for the past two or three decades.
Kerr, who began his tenure in 2017 during a particularly turbulent time when the water district was under investigation by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, was singled out for his dedicated service.
“Mr. Kerr stood up, went before the [Kentucky Public Service Commission], was treated poorly by the PSC and wasn’t paid a dime for any of that,” the judge said. “Financially, at the time, we weren’t doing very well, so Jimmy Don stood up and did that, helped bring the district back into good financial standing, which was not an easy thing to do. We certainly appreciate Mr. Kerr for everything he’s done.”
Kerr had initially expressed readiness to step down when Lafferty took office but stayed on at Lafferty’s request to help stabilize the board further. Lafferty expressed gratitude for Kerr’s work in revitalizing the district’s finances.
“I’m very appreciative of that and the work that he did to bring us this far,” he said.
BJ Slone, another departing member, also received praise for his contributions to the board.
Lafferty pointed out that the time for a new phase has arrived: “We’re entering the operational phase. We have this grant funding out there. When it becomes available, it is going to be very important that those in charge oversee that money to make sure that every dime of it is spent appropriately. If we do get the money, this will probably be our last chance for decades to come.”
Timothy Thoma, an Inez local with an impressive background in designing, building and managing water and sewage systems, has been tapped to replace Kerr. His experience spans hundreds of millions of dollars in projects across the country, making him a fit for the role.
“When he told me about his career, my jaw dropped,” Lafferty shared. “It wasn’t a visit or two later until I began to work on him, to tell him that when a position came open on the water board, he was a Martin Countian, and I asked if he would be willing. After several more conversations, he agreed.”
He added, “Having someone who is an expert in both water and sewer has to be Lord-sent.”
Meanwhile, Vernon Robinson will step into BJ Slone’s position. A longtime local who returned to Martin County after years of business success, Robinson has executive-level business experience despite his lack of direct experience with water systems.
“He lives on Calf Creek and is involved in the school system and the academic team. He also manages the baseball team,” said Lafferty. “I think he will make a fantastic board member.”
The appointments received the approval of Magistrates Tracy Spence, Ronald Workman, Junior Hunt and Kermit Howell, with only Magistrate Cody Slone abstaining.
Thoma and Robinson’s four-year terms officially began in December 2023, keeping the terms on the schedule previously set by the Kentucky Public Service Commission.