BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — City officials are exploring plans to extend the Inez Creekside Trail east. This project could add up to a quarter mile to the trail.

Commissioner Nita Collier presented a map of the extension in a special meeting Jan. 21 at City Hall. She said the Big Sandy Area Development District prepared the map.

“We have talked to all the property owners,” Collier said. “We have verbal agreements from all property owners to do that extension.”

Mayor Ed Daniels asked whether the city has verbal agreements from property owners to extend the walkway to the Whickerfield bridge.

“No. We do not,” Collier replied.

“We need to get that if we can,” Daniels said.

The mayor noted that extending it to the Whickerfield bridge would add 1/4 mile, bringing the trail to 3/4 mile.

Collier said Big Sandy ADD representatives plan to seek approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the project. She is also obtaining a cost estimate from an engineering firm and noted the need for formal property easements.

Daniels told commissioners that building the extension in concrete would cost more than constructing a raised boardwalk using treated lumber.

“Plus, you could put it up higher for when the creek gets up,” he said. “It’s not going to run over top of it.”

Commissioner Phyllis Conrad questioned how high the structure would need to be, noting that the creek reaches bank-full during flooding.

“I wonder about the durability of it when it does flood,” Conrad said.

Daniels said the supports would consist of 6-inch-by-8-foot posts anchored into the ground.

“I would be interested in knowing how high that would be,” Conrad said. “It could be dangerous for a child if they slipped off, if it’s even a foot.”

Daniels said the walkway would include handrails.

“To do the concrete would be $193,000 and some change,” he said. “To do the boardwalk would be $159,000 … I’m sure that there will be safety features on it. We’re not going to put up something that somebody would get killed on.”

Conrad also noted that some people ride bicycles on the current walkway.

“Well, they’re not supposed to,” Daniels said.

The mayor said the project remains in preliminary discussion stages and would depend on securing grant funding.

Collier said one possible source is a federal Recreational Trails Program grant administered through the state.

“It’s a matching grant,” she said. “With the money we have, we should be able to come up with the matching.”

She also told commissioners she had spoken with Daniel Howard, agriculture agent with the Martin County Extension Office.

“They’re doing the butterfly habitat, and he was saying this would be a great spot for that,” Collier said. “They would pay for the habitat themselves, as part of the trail.”

Conrad asked whether the habitat would include trees.

“It’s plants,” Collier said. “He said they would have to cut some sod up. He explained how they would do it. Then they would plant some seeds in there, and [the plants] would come back every year. He said it’s very low maintenance.”

Other business

In other business, Commissioner Roy Penix gave the street report.

“Terrell has been helping with the lights, getting the Christmas lights down, taking the things off the poles and those types of things,” he said. “Also, he’s been helping clean up the garbage around town.”

Penix also presented the administrative report, stating the city paid all its monthly bills.

“Everything looked fine,” he added.

Clerk Kaylee Crum gave her report.

“I received an email from ABC requesting that we notify them of illegal activities—sales to minors,” Crum said.

She advised that the city’s W-2s were ready to mail. Crum also said a man asked the city to replace a veteran’s banner, which the manufacturer will replace under warranty.