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Sept. 8 conference: PSC to question Martin County Water on rates, surcharges, raw water intake
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Kentucky Public Service Commission will question Martin County Water District officials Tuesday about customer surcharge collections, a possible rate adjustment, the district’s long-troubled raw water intake and the status of millions of dollars in grant funding. The PSC has scheduled its monthly informal conference in Case No.…
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Martin County tosses flood demolition bids
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County will rescind a $560,500 flood-buyout demolition award and start the bidding process over after learning required USDA steps were not completed before the project was advertised. Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills said Sept. 1 that the Aug. 20 bid award to Howell’s Recycling & Sanitation of Debord…
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Recently elected Mingo BOE member resigns
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Justin Kirk, who was one of three new school board members elected in May, has resigned from the Mingo County Board of Education citing personal reasons. The BOE formally accepted his resignation during a special session Aug. 25. Superintendent of Schools Joetta Basile said the district will…
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Morrisey announces $145 million water push, Wayne County projects
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey has announced $145 million in additional state funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, along with several projects aimed at addressing chronic water problems in Wayne County and other parts of southern West Virginia. Morrisey announced the statewide funding Aug. 19 in Beckley, then traveled to…
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Skyles: New law narrows voter ID options
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — With the Nov. 3 General Election approaching, Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles reminds voters that those who arrive at the polls without an acceptable photo ID have fewer options to verify their identity under a new state law that took effect July 15. The change removes Social Security…
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Martin County eyes $7.3M earmark for downtown Inez revitalization
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County officials are moving forward with plans to redevelop a block of downtown Inez as they await a decision on a proposed $7.3 million federal earmark that could fund infrastructure upgrades, a park and a new building on property acquired by the Fiscal Court in 2024. Martin…
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‘Bill’ Preece unseats Kirk as voters deliver Primary Election upsets
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Republicans delivered several major upsets Tuesday night, unseating incumbents in the sheriff’s race and multiple county contests while returning other longtime officeholders to the ballot for November. The night’s biggest shake-up came in the Republican primary for Martin County sheriff, where challenger William “Bill” Preece defeated…
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Primary election results for Mingo County
Voter turnout light CITIZEN STAFF REPORT Voter turnout was very low for the Primary Election in Mingo County on Tuesday, May 12. According to one report only about 12% of the registered voters came out to vote in the off-year election. Mingo County has 28 precincts, whittled down from years past. The following is a…
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Lafferty presses senate, governor for $26M WWATERS funds
Judge/executive invokes coal legacy BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty used a special Fiscal Court meeting March 26 to publicly urge the Kentucky Senate and Gov. Andy Beshear to approve $25.8 million in WWATERS funding for local water and sewer projects, arguing the county has earned basic infrastructure after…
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House backs $25.8M in Martin County water, sewer projects
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — Martin County’s water and wastewater systems moved a major step closer to relief Tuesday. State Rep. Bobby McCool announced the Kentucky House passed House Joint Resolution 81, a measure that would release $52,502,260 in previously appropriated WWATERS funds, including $25,818,550 for eight Martin County water and sewer projects.…
