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Martin County Community Center must seek reinstatement after operating inactively
Judge Lafferty addresses Fiscal Court concerns BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Roy F. Collier Community Center has operated without an active corporation since 2021 but must get reinstated, Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty told magistrates during a Fiscal Court meeting Thursday. The subject came up when Lafferty stated there was no need…
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Martin County accepting proposals for trash collection; appoints new solid waste board
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court is accepting proposals until noon Nov. 16 for commercial and residential garbage collection and disposal, as advertised in this edition of the newspaper. Magistrates approved Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty’s request to advertise for proposals during the county’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting Thursday in the Martin…
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Fiscal Court must balance community concerns and cleanup goals
The recent Martin County Fiscal Court hearing on the real property tax rate may not have garnered much attention, but the new solid waste ordinance stole the spotlight. Residents and the county are aligned in their desire to address the county’s garbage problem. However, residents had numerous concerns and raised important questions about the balance…
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Martin County Fiscal Court adopts controversial solid waste ordinance
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court held a hearing Thursday on its real property tax rate. While many residents attended, none voiced concerns about the tax rate of 11.5 cents per $100 of assessed value adopted by the court. Instead, their primary focus was opposing the proposed solid waste…
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Martin County introduces strict new garbage and nuisance ordinance
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court unveiled a new solid waste and nuisance ordinance in its meeting Thursday. The 22-page ordinance implements stricter fines and penalties for violators, empowers code enforcement officers with extended authority, and establishes a code enforcement board to oversee legal proceedings. Before delving into the first…
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Grassy School fated for demolition amid asbestos and lead paint concern
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The old Grassy School is fated for demolition, but the Martin County Fiscal Court must first remove asbestos, lead paint and other hazardous materials from the structure. Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty recently discussed the results of the June 16-21 survey conducted by Tetra Tech Inc., confirming the…
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Martin County advertises hearing on tax rate, approves loans for Riverside residents
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court announced a public hearing on the real property tax rate, approved HUD loans for Riverside residents and advanced several development projects in a meeting Thursday. The court voted to advertise a public hearing on the real property tax rate for 1 p.m. Oct. 12…
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Hope for Riverside Apartments residents
Perhaps now more than ever, it is a truism that home is where the heart is. For the residents of Riverside Apartments, their homes have recently been entangled in a web of administrative and utility-related complexities that have threatened to destabilize their lives. The Martin County’s Fiscal Court’s initiative to offer zero-interest loans for residents…
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Martin County set for redistricting following census
Fiscal Court approves measures to enhance local infrastructure BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — According to the results of the 2020 U.S. Census, Martin County residents are set to see new magisterial boundaries. Magistrates ratified Judge-Executive Lon Lafferty’s recommendations for appointees to a local redistricting committee in a Fiscal Court meeting Thursday. “After the…