BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The City of Inez gave the green light to medical cannabis operations within city limits Thursday, approving the measure with no discussion. Commissioners then focused on the city’s $27,093 remaining ARPA funds and their hope for a flashing marquee sign.
First up: a plan to spend $2,589 on three new “welcome” signs and their installation trimmed the ARPA balance to $24,504.
Mayor Ed Daniels floated a previous agreement to donate $16,000 to four community festivals: the Appalachian Artist Festival, Fourth of July, Harvest Festival and Christmas in the Mountains. The commission nodded in agreement but punted the official vote to the next meeting, awaiting absent Commissioner Jennifer Wells.
That left $11,504 on the table for brainstorming.
Commissioner Nita Collier quickly secured a $1,832 donation to the Martin County All-Sports Hall of Fame for a historical marker honoring the former Inez High School. The marker will grace a space in front of the Martin County Business Center on Main Street where the school stood from 1936 to 1972.
That left $9,672 in unallocated funds.
Collier also pitched replacing signs on the King Fisher Trail but hit a snag. Mayor Daniels pointed out the city does not own the trail. Instead, he urged commissioners to bring fresh spending ideas to the next meeting, noting the city must obligate ARPA funding or risk potential clawbacks of the funds.
Regulations require local governments to return ARPA funding that remains unobligated beyond the end-of-year deadline. The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations defines “obligation” as “an order placed for property and services and entering into contracts, subawards and similar transactions that require payment.”
Meanwhile, marquee aspirations met sticker shock.
Quotes that Commissioner Phyllis Conrad got from Unisign Corp of Prestonsburg came in at $25,000 for a 3-foot-by-4-foot sign and $29,000 “plus some change” for a larger one. Commissioners agreed the city should seek grant funding for the marquee.
In other business, Commissioner Roy Penix reported that city worker Terril Crum spent the month putting up lights for Christmas in the Mountains.
“It’s consumed most of his time,” Penix noted.
Commissioners approved an electronic water bill payment and vacation days for clerk Lisa Mollett.
Inez Commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall.