Martin County court authorizes ARPA funds to buy seven downtown properties in Inez

The Martin County physical court voted to authorize use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to acquire seven downtown properties in Inez for economic development.

An unidentified speaker described the plan as part of a broader effort "to revitalize our downtown areas" and said the aim is to acquire "old buildings, tear them down, seek grant funding to build new buildings, and then be able to lease those out to people for various businesses and shops." The speaker introduced a resolution that, as read into the record, authorizes payment of funds "in the amount of up to $550,000 available to the county through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to purchase 7 tracts of real estate and appurtenances, fixtures, appliances, and improvements thereon in Downtown Inez for the purpose of economic development."

The speaker also described negotiations with multiple landowners and said one owner holds most of the parcels. He noted an appraisal came in higher than the agreed price and — in speaking — referenced other numbers that were not consistent in the record. For example, a comment in discussion cited "$7,074,000 a piece approximately" when the resolution text refers to funds "in the amount of up to $550,000." The court record does not resolve that discrepancy; the transcript only contains the conflicting spoken references.

The resolution cites federal authority for the expenditure, noting that Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (signed March 11, 2021) and that the U.S. Department of the Treasury published a final rule on January 6, 2022 (referencing 31 CFR part 35) governing use of SLFRF funds. The speaker said local governments, "including Martin County," have latitude under that rule to use SLFRF allocations for government services and economic development.

A motion to adopt the resolution was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote; the speaker stated, "The motion carries." The speaker characterized this purchase as "just the beginning" of county revitalization efforts and referenced an additional property in Warfield that is awaiting appraisals and grant steps.

Next steps were not specified in the record beyond the court's adoption of the resolution; the transcript does not record purchase closings, a procurement schedule, or final contract terms.