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A step forward but a long road ahead for water
The plight of Martin County’s water system is a grave reminder of the critical condition of infrastructure in the region and Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District. The recent request by U.S. Representative Harold “Hal” Rogers for $5 million in funding for Martin County, part of an $85.85 million Community Project Funding package, is a step in…
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Residents can apply for utility bill payment assistance starting July 25
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Big Sandy Area Community Action Program (BSACAP) announced that residents in need could apply for help with their electricity, water and sewer bill payments starting July 25. The organization will accept applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Low-Income Home Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Summer Subsidy Programs…
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Martin County Water District grapples with depleted reservoir, project setbacks
Pump costs $1,000 a day for fuel plus $8,000 monthly rent BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Water District is spending $1,000 a day for fuel and 8,000 a month on a pump to transfer water from the river to the critically low Curtis Crum Reservoir. Meanwhile, the water district has encountered…
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‘Water Day’ music and art festival coming to Inez
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Tourism is joining with Austin Shuck’s Appalachian Pioneer Program to bring a mural to downtown Inez and kick it off with a “Water Day” music and art festival in mid-May. Tourism chairperson Nita Collier said in a Tourism Commission meeting Monday that she had been working…
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Martin County Water manager resigns, takes job at Paintsville Utilities
BY PHILL BARNETT MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Water District general manager Craig Miller has resigned to take a job working for Paintsville Utilities. Miller tendered his resignation Feb. 27 to Alliance Water Resource, the contractor that manages MCWD. According to Miller, he starts work April 3 for Paintsville. “I am proud of…
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Kermit water project fully funded
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN Kermit, W.Va. — A project designed to improve the Kermit water system is fully funded. Mayor Charles Sparks announced during the Feb. 20 council meeting that Kermit got approval for the $686,000 needed to match the $2.7 million already approved for the project. The $3.4 million project will rehabilitate the…
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Attention Martin County Water customers: Possible outages for leak detection work
INEZ — Martin County Water District will begin leak detection in the Inez pressure zone starting Friday night around 10:30 p.m. Alliance Water Resources announced Tuesday that the work would be performed at night to limit the effect on customers. The announcement states: “This will be the first time such leak detection has been performed…
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Lafferty on mission to get $60 million to fix Martin County’s water system
BY RACHEL DOVE MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty has pledged to make Martin County’s water system his top priority over the next four years. He says he aims to fix it and is already working toward that goal. Following a catastrophic water system failure Dec. 26 that left the county’s population…