BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court moved through a wide-ranging agenda at its April 17 special meeting. Magistrates approved a lease transfer for Dempsey Housing, a resolution joining a regional push for emergency radio upgrades, the appointment of water and library board members and a $1.24 million budget amendment for water system generators.
Dempsey lease
The fiscal court approved the assignment of a long-standing county lease for Dempsey Housing, a HUD-subsidized apartment complex in Warfield, from Dempsey Housing Ltd. to Dempsey Preservation LLC.
The action transfers Dempsey Housing Ltd.’s leasehold interest to Dempsey Preservation LLC.
Dempsey Preservation LLC is a Delaware limited liability company managed by Property Investment Holdings LLC, a Maryland limited liability company.
According to county records, Dempsey Housing Ltd. and its general partner, CRICO Development, a Delaware corporation, acquired the lease from Martin County on Sept. 30, 1980.
During discussion, Magistrate Ronald Workman asked whether the county, as landowner, would receive any money from the lease arrangement.
Assistant County Attorney Lynette Muncy said the agreement had been in place for years.
“We get the benefit of public housing for the residents of the county, to help people who do not have the means to provide for themselves,” Muncy said.
Magistrate Cody Slone added that federal funding for the housing project comes through the fiscal court to the leaseholder.
Radio grant
Citing communication failures during the Pontiki Mine collapse and years of catastrophic flooding, the fiscal court voted to join Pike and Floyd counties in seeking funding through the Center for Rural Development for a regional emergency radio system upgrades.
The court adopted a resolution that supports a joint effort among the three counties to improve radio coverage and coordination among first responders across county lines.
In the resolution, county leaders said Martin County had seen the communication struggles of first responders during the Pontiki Mine collapse and repeated flood disasters, and argued that a regional approach would offer a better chance of success than each county acting alone.
The measure also backs efforts to secure state and federal funding for a regional trunked radio system intended to provide more complete radio coverage and upgrade communications systems for public safety agencies throughout the three-county area.
The action follows the announcement of $20 million in federal funding for The Center for Rural Development in Somerset to support technology upgrades in Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District.
Board appointments
Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty received the fiscal court’s approval for the appointment of Heather Perry to the Martin County Library Board to replace John R. Triplett.
He also received approval for the appointment of Norma McCormick to replace Nina McCoy on the Martin County Water Board.
Budget amendment
The court conducted the first reading of an ordinance amending the budget for fiscal year 2025-26, calling it “budget amendment 3.” The amendment increases both revenues and appropriations by $1,244,682.37 to account for previously unbudgeted funds tied to the KACo #17 Water Company Generator Loan.
According to the amendment, the money is being added to the county’s general fund receipts and appropriated under Water System Generators, reflecting the county’s plan to use the loan proceeds for generator-related improvements tied to the water system.
Law requires the fiscal court to let the public know when it will conduct the second reading as well as where residents can see the ordinance following its final adoption. The advertisements must appear in the The Mountain Citizen.
Financials
Magistrates approved outstanding vendor claims totaling $134,638.28 with an attached page containing a list of bills totaling $9,725.