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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…
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Martin County Fiscal Court does well in FY2022 audit despite leadership change
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — State Auditor Mike Harmon has released the annual audit of the financial statement of the Martin County Fiscal Court for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022. Despite a sudden change in county leadership following the death of former Judge/Executive Victor Slone, the audit noted fewer issues…
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Saltwell sewer lift makes repair list
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Fixing the sewer lift station at Saltwell Road in Inez will become part of the $3.1 million sewer line extension project on New Route 3. Martin County Fiscal Court approved funding and administration agreements for the project during an April 20 meeting, prompting questions from District 1 Magistrate…
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Fiscal Court planning to help Martin County Sheriff get vehicles
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court is helping Sheriff John Kirk to replace worn-out law enforcement cruisers. Kirk asked the fiscal court to consider using the $22,000 excess fees his office collected and turned over to the county last week toward securing vehicles. “That’s money that we earned,” Kirk…
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Landowner says county ‘illegally’ adopted his property into public road plan
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court addressed an agenda Thursday that included a conflict over a road that a property owner says was illegally adopted into the county road plan in 2020. Magistrates voted to begin the process of adding new roads as well as removing two roads from…
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County announces sewer line extension for Davella
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Sanitation will spend $1.1 million of $3.1 Congressional earmark funding to add 92 new customers to the sewer system in the Davella/Debord area. Big Sandy Area Development District director Eric Ratliff attended a special meeting Friday of the Martin County Fiscal Court to ask magistrates to…
