By Sarah Ladd
In other business, Vandergrift announced that Midway is
officially a Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame City. He showed the council a new
sign commemorating the honor, which he hopes to officially unveil on Veterans Day. He
asked the council for suggestions on where to place it. To be a Kentucky
Veterans Hall of Fame City, a city must have a designated Kentucky Veterans
Hall of Fame Day.
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media
The budget approved by the Midway City Council approved
Monday evening has a revenue estimate that calls for the council to lower the city’s property-tax income by
25 percent.
The budget, for the fiscal year that begins July 1, was
approved without debate. Council Member Bruce Southworth, who had raised
questions about the $17,000 budgeted for improvements at Walter Bradley
Park, said after the meeting, “I got my answers; it’s all been resolved.”
At the council’s last meeting, Southworth asked for a third
workshop to discuss the budget but Mayor Grayson Vandergrift declined, saying
later that Southworth’s concerns were not about money, but about personnel. Volunteer Park Manager John Holloway was on hand to answer any questions that may have arisen at Monday's meeting,
Vandergrift said after Monday’s meeting that he and
Southworth had discussed the park issue. As for the lack of discussion, “I
think it was just a really good budget and they liked it,” he said.
During the 21-minute meeting, Vandergrift noted that while the process did
not go as smoothly this year as last, “I’m very proud of our budget.” He
thanked the council members for adding investments to the budget. “There’s no other city in Kentucky doing this
right now.”
Vandegrift proposed cutting property taxes because the city
is getting so much more income from occupational, or payroll, taxes from recent development. The
council agreed, and will set property-tax rates after it gets the options
calculated by the state based on this year’s property valuations.
Vandegrift shows sign to be officially unveiled on Veterans Day |
In the midst of the city’s examination of an ordinance to
crack down on blighted properties, Vandergrift suggested the council also examine vague language in a county
ordinance that deals with storage of recreational vehicles.
“We’re starting to
see a lot of RVs pop up around town,” the mayor said, adding that a county
ordinance says RVs are to be stored in the owner’s side or back yard “where
possible.” and “I don’t know what ‘where possible’ means.” He suggested City
Attorney Phil Moloney begin working on clearer language to bring before the
council when it works on the blighted-property ordinance.
“I don’t want to impose upon anyone,” the mayor said.
“Anyone who wants to own an RV can own and RV. But, I think there’s a problem
if we don’t start to regulate it.”
Council Member Steve Simoff noted a traffic backup from a
tractor-trailer delivering to Main Street restaurants, and said the city also
needs to do something to keep store owners and employees from using street
parking that could be used by customers. “We’re losing business,” he said.
The next council meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. June 18
at City Hall. All council meetings are open to the public.
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