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Remember whose money it is
Martin County Fiscal Court now has an opportunity to correct a decision that should never have been made in the first place. The county will rescind its $560,500 award to Howell’s Recycling & Sanitation and rebid eight flood-buyout demolition projects after learning it failed to complete required USDA procedures before advertising the work. Starting over…
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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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Martin County chooses $560,500 demolition bid over $157,500 offer
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court voted Thursday to award eight federally funded demolition jobs to a local contractor whose bids totaled $560,500 — $403,000 more than a competing contractor — after a magistrate said he favored the local company because “it’s federal money” and “not like it’s coming through…
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Federal money is still taxpayer money
Martin County Fiscal Court made a decision Thursday that should trouble every taxpayer, regardless of which contractor ultimately would have been best suited for the job. The court chose Howell’s Recycling & Sanitation of Debord for demolition and restoration work on eight flood-buyout properties. Howell’s bids totaled $560,500. West Brothers Contracting of Varney, West Virginia,…
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County honors Blaine Stepp for craftsmanship, service
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County officials honored longtime Road & Bridge employee Blaine Stepp Thursday for his decades of craftsmanship, including his latest creation — a replica coal cart now on display in Warfield. Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty and the Martin County Fiscal Court presented Stepp with a framed photograph of the…
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Harvest Fest promises biggest entertainment lineup yet
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Harvest Festival will celebrate 30 years Sept. 18-19 with what organizers are calling its biggest entertainment lineup yet, more food vendors and $15 unlimited-ride wristbands. Martin County Attorney Melissa Phelps, president of the Kiwanis Club, gave the Fiscal Court a preview Thursday of the annual…
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Martin County seeks $19.5M to expand flood buyout
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County is seeking nearly $19.5 million in additional federal funding to expand its flood-buyout program, potentially adding a Newberry Lane property omitted from the original list and five or six other properties. The Martin County Fiscal Court approved an amendment to the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant…
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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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Martin County’s proposed budget jumps to $19.8M with flood buyout
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court gave a first reading Thursday to a proposed FY2027 budget that grows to approximately $19.8 million from $11.3 million in FY2026, driven by a $6.18 million flood buyout fund while also directing around $1.5 million toward community amenities, tourism and public facilities, including the…
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Activist urges Martin County to adopt resolution calling for Kentucky Power audit
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Pike County activist is urging Eastern Kentucky counties to demand a full public audit of Kentucky Power before any additional rate increases are approved. Zachary Tackett, founder of the nonprofit Creek Don’t Rise Coalition, plans to ask the Martin County Fiscal Court on Thursday to adopt a…
