BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County allocated $300,000 from its American Rescue Plan funds to match the funding for the Martin County Water District’s meter and service line replacement project on Collins Creek Road in Warfield.
Congressman Hal Rogers announced a $1.2 million grant through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 531 program in March 2022, requiring a 20% match. The county’s $300,000 contribution brings the total project funding to $1.5 million. In April, the water district announced that it had accepted a $1.38 million bid from Boca Enterprises, leaving a $120,000 contingency.
The project began June 10 after Warfield City leaders worked with Lexington-based Bell Engineering to get the required city permits issued with zero business days to spare.
In other business, the court voted to close Turkey Park due to persistent flooding.
Brushy Creek Stone of Olive Hill secured the contract for gravel, with dense grade at $31.80 per ton, $33.45 for 57s, and $32.10 per ton for both Class 2 and Class 4.
BTI Asphalt from West Virginia will supply asphalt at $154.50 per ton for orders of 100 tons or more and $199.50 per ton for orders less than 100 tons and all FEMA jobs.
The court selected Pikeville-based J&M Monitoring’s bid of $102,225 to remove asbestos and hazardous materials from the Grassy School. Edgis Environmental of Franklin, Tennessee, had submitted a bid of $121,000.
Magistrates authorized the judge to negotiate with companies interested in repairing the county swimming pool and bring back the price for court approval. Four companies expressed interest in the project: Aquatics Construction proposed $161,234.84 for new pool construction; DWR Aquatics offered three repair proposals ranging from $448,465 to $990,000; Bluegrass Recreation proposed $259,890 for new construction; and Brandstetter Carroll Inc. proposed $15,000 to assess the pool and prepare an estimate.
The court also conducted the second reading of the “ATV County Road Ordinance.” Judge Lafferty clarified that the ordinance is not related to the trail system development but allows ATVs on county roads if operators obey the law. District 1 Magistrate Cody Slone suggested the ordinance include all county roads. County Attorney Melissa Phelps noted some county roads only go to individual homes. The ordinance was approved.
Magistrates heard the second reading of the 2025 budget, which includes a $1 per hour raise for county employees with four or more years of service.
Zackary Wright of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet presented recommendations for Martin County’s Rural Secondary program funding for fiscal year 2025. The anticipated allotment is $987,821, with $444,000 for state maintenance, $88,887 for discretionary projects, and $454,935 for patching on KY-292, KY-2031, and KY-908, as well as tree cutting on KY-292.