BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — The Martin County Economic Development Board voted to finalize an agreement to transfer a 148.5-acre tract of land adjacent to Martin County High School to the Board of Education.

The land was recently appraised at $4.2 million fair market value, EDA chairman James Ayers stated in a July 10 EDA meeting.

The transfer, contingent upon approval by the Kentucky Department of Education, follows an EDA discussion in June 2023 and a vote authorizing Ayers to execute the final agreement. According to Ayers, negotiations between the two entities concluded on the morning of July 10.

In exchange for the property, the Board of Education will transfer Inez Elementary School, Martin County Middle School, and the district’s baseball and softball fields adjacent to Ray Fields Park to the EDA. Ayers noted that these transfers are also subject to Kentucky Department of Education approval to declare the properties as surplus.

“Once those are surplus, approval would be sought, and those properties would be conveyed to us,” Ayers said.

Martin County School District Superintendent Larry James attended the meeting. He stated that the district had received verbal approval to move forward with constructing a new Inez Elementary School on the property.

“We have approximately $29 million from the state, free money, so we’re in the process now of getting our committees together,” James said. “It takes about a year to plan a new school and three years to build. So you’re looking at having a new elementary school four years down the road.”

Ayers stated that the EDA would make the land transfer immediately, emphasizing that no tax increases would be necessary.

James confirmed the district would spend $500,000 of its own money and receive $29.6 million from the state, ensuring no tax hikes for the local community.

“We do not have to raise taxes for $500,000,” said James. “The board does not want to raise taxes. Barring some kind of tragedy, that is not going to happen.”

Board member Brad Pack raised concerns about the timeline for transferring school district properties. Ayers clarified that the transfers would occur when the district no longer needed the properties.

Superintendent James assured the EDA that the school district had no interest in maintaining unused buildings, citing the old high school’s $100,000 cost post-closure as an example. He indicated that the transfer process would commence swiftly once the new elementary school is completed, followed by the sports fields and eventually the middle school.

“We don’t want property,” added James. “The next superintendent and board won’t want property or buildings that they don’t need … The middle school is going to take a little longer, but once it does happen, we will come to you guys. The middle school has a lot of property out behind the school.”

Pack asked if there was a way to set a time limit for the middle school property transfer. Ayers responded, “There is not. This was the best agreement for both sides.”

EDA director Carolea Mills echoed Ayers’ sentiment, describing the agreement as forward-thinking and protective of the EDA’s interests.

“It is a little bit forward-thinking because I don’t think they have said they’re going to move the middle school,” Mills said. “If that is the plan at some time to do that, this will allow whoever is sitting in these chairs to say, ‘We get that school.’ This legal agreement protects the Economic Development Authority.”

Mills added that the property does not have potential development value as the EDA would avoid any industrial development near the high school to ensure student safety.

Pack inquired if the district had considered building a K-8 school. James replied that the district lacks sufficient funds.

“We have about 250 students in seventh and eighth grades,” remarked James. “I think eventually what is going to happen, eight or 10 years down the road if the county’s population continues to decline, it will be a 7-12 high school. That’s what I think will happen. It won’t be me, but that’s what I think is going to happen.”

James added that he hopes that will not be the case. “Hopefully, we will get new business to come in and find that we need another school.”

Board member Eddie Howell suggested that the new four-lane highway could attract more students to the district. James agreed, noting the potential for growth with improved infrastructure.

“It’s on the six-year road plan,” said the superintendent. “The idea is you will have a new elementary school. And you will have your football, softball, baseball and tennis all right there in the center of the county, basically.”

Ayers concluded, “And again you’re not raising taxes.”