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Martin County lands historic $26M WWATERS funding
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — For years, Martin County’s water crisis was measured in indignities. Brown water in bathtubs. Buckets carried up hillsides. Faucets that could not be trusted. A community forced to document its own hardship again and again, hoping that somewhere beyond the mountains, someone in power would finally pay attention.
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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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Flood buyouts in Martin County could begin in 60 to 90 days
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County’s USDA Emergency Watershed Protection flood buyouts could begin closing within 60 to 90 days, according to county officials. The Martin County Fiscal Court advanced the second reading of a $6.68 million budget amendment March 26 in a special meeting. Of that amount, roughly $6.3 million is
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Martin County Fiscal Court handles bids, board appointments, business in special session
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court approved board appointments, awarded mowing contracts and advanced several other business items during a special meeting March 26. Magistrates approved Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty’s reappointment of John Hensley and Colby Kirk to the Martin County Utility Board. The court also approved Karen Thoma to fill
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Martin County plans Easter egg hunt at Frank Horn Field
INEZ — Frank Horn Field will become a springtime playground April 4 as Martin County officials welcome families to a community Easter egg hunt. The event begins at 11 a.m. in Inez and will include prizes, inflatables and classic ballfield fun. Martin County Fiscal Court, Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty, District 1 Magistrate Cody Slone and District
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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.
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Martin County Fiscal Court moves on buyouts, sewer upgrades, commercial kitchen
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — In a meeting that moved briskly from flood mitigation to economic development, the Martin County Fiscal Court on Thursday approved a new bank account for federally funded home buyouts, amended a multimillion-dollar sewer contract and set in motion grant applications that include a commercial kitchen in Inez. The
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Ambulance coverage at risk in Martin County as Patriot EMS faces layoffs, closures
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — For Martin County residents, calling 911 has long come with a basic expectation: an ambulance crew will arrive in time to make a difference. Now, amid layoffs, missed payroll and station closures at the region’s largest private provider, county officials are preparing for a possibility that once felt
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Martin County Judge/Executive presses state officials on $40 million water bid
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty and other local officials met Tuesday in Frankfort with state leaders to discuss the county’s grant applications for nearly $40 million from the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems (WWATERS) program. The General Assembly created the program in
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Martin County wins $4.8 million for sewer upgrade, awaits news of WWATERS grants
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — As Martin County waits on news of state funding to address its drinking water system, federal lawmakers have approved $4.8 million to modernize a long-troubled wastewater treatment plant in Inez. The funding, announced Thursday by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, is part of a broad federal appropriations package. Martin
