BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County has been awarded a grant of $96,173 to tackle the issue of five illegal roadside dumps.
Martin County Solid Waste Coordinator Eric Phelps said Friday that this financial assistance, provided through the Kentucky Division of Waste Management’s Illegal Open Dump Grant Program, will go for cleaning up dumps at Fitch Branch Road where trash and debris have become entrapped under the bridge that crosses Rockcastle Creek between Old Route 3 and Route 645 ($4,877), Route 292 at Buffalo Horn ($29,237), Mountain View Cemetery Road at the top of Turkey Creek Hill ($29,397), a smaller dump on Turkey Creek ($1,464), and Sansom Drive on Lick Branch ($31,196).
The county identified these locations as critical points needing immediate attention to mitigate environmental and health risks.
“We have appliances, tires, garbage, just a little bit of everything,” Phelps said.
The grant program requires the county to match 25% of the funding.
“There are ways the county can pay that 25%, such as in-kind work hours and equipment,” said Phelps. “We will get this done at minimum cost to the Fiscal Court and do our part to clean up our county. Hopefully this will start a process that will have a big impact on our environment in years to come.”
The county has a year to complete the projects.
“We hope to get them knocked out way before then,” said Phelps.
Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty said Friday that he looks forward to the county cleaning up those dumps.
“Our residents deserve clean and safe communities,” Lafferty said, adding that these dumps pose significant health, safety and environmental threats.
Lafferty and the Fiscal Court are currently gearing up for the new solid waste ordinance that goes into effect April 1. The ordinance, adopted in November 2023, regulates garbage collection and disposal, establishing legal, administrative and enforcement frameworks. The judge said the primary purpose of the ordinance is to protect public health by ensuring that solid waste is properly managed to control pests and vermin, reduce pollution and prevent contamination of water sources.
“Garbage causes sickness,” said Lafferty. “Bacteria and viruses from garbage are disease-causing.”
While the grant funding pertains to roadside dumps, the ordinance sets rules prohibiting garbage piles on private property.
“Garbage in people’s yards is a health concern and an overall quality of life concern,” said the judge. “Having trash piles in any neighborhood affects everyone’s property values.”
According to Lafferty, the Fiscal Court is making some amendments to the ordinance after hearing concerns and suggestions from residents last fall.
“The goal isn’t to impose fines on people,” the judge said. “I hope no one ever gets a fine.”
Lafferty expressed confidence that the solid waste board members sworn in last November will lead effectively.
“We have good people on the board who want to work with people,” he said.
The new board members are Rossalene Cox, Marcie Hanson, Dottie Horn, Deresa Ray MacDonald and Greg Murphy.