Jenkins council approves resolution to explore partnership to renovate Old Jenkins Country Club
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Summary
Presenters sought Abandoned Mine Lands grant funding and asked the city to act as a pass-through sponsor; the council unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution to explore a partnership and help shepherd the grant application and legal steps.
Presenters asked the Jenkins City Council to support a renovation of the Old Jenkins Country Club and to serve as a pass-through sponsor for an Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) economic revitalization grant application.
At the meeting, a presenter (identified in the record as Speaker 5) said the renovation would restore 10 hotel rooms upstairs and create construction and permanent jobs — grounds maintenance, housekeeping, front-desk staff and event staff — and help address what the presenter called a shortage of lodging in Letcher County. "There's no lodging left in Letcher County except for, you know, Airbnb's," the presenter said, urging the council to help the project access grant funding that requires a government or nonprofit sponsor.
Attorney Verdun asked the council to pass a general, nonbinding resolution to explore a partnership under the AML program so the city could serve as the fiscal sponsor if appropriate. Speaker 3 moved to adopt the resolution and Speaker 5 seconded; the council approved the measure by voice vote. Council members stressed that approving the resolution did not commit the city to funding the project, only to work with presenters on legal and administrative arrangements.
Presenters and council members discussed next steps: finalizing partnership terms, getting legal details in place, and completing the grant application by the stated AML deadline. Council and presenters described a phased approach: phase 1 would address building repairs (roof, plumbing, electrical), and phase 2 would focus on property and site improvements to support events, lodging and tourism. One speaker described the building as solid but in need of renovation, noting it cost "well over $1,000,000" when originally constructed.
The council directed staff to work with the presenters on drafting language for the resolution and to review legal requirements necessary for the city to act as a pass-through sponsor. The resolution was framed as exploratory; no binding financial commitment or award was authorized at the meeting.
The meeting record shows the council's immediate action was to approve exploring a partnership; presenters said they would continue grant writing and return with more detailed materials and timing.