Mayor, challenger see infrastructure need; Vandegrift says it's happening, Wilson says a plan is needed

Ambrose Wilson IV and Mayor Grayson Vandegrift (Photos by Hannah Woosley, UK School of Journalism and Media)

By Christie Netherton
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

In their only scheduled forum Thursday night, the mayoral candidates agreed that infrastructure was one of the most important issues presently facing Midway.

The forum at Midway University also included City Council candidates, who touched on some of the same issues. For profiles of the council candidates, click here.

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift, seeking a second four-year term, noted that the city recently paid off its sewer debt, opening up more funds to invest in repairing water and sewer lines:  “By doubling our occupational tax revenue and paying off our sewer debt, we’re in the position we need to be in now to start taking on these larger projects.”

Challenger Ambrose Wilson IV, chair of the county school board, said infrastructure repairs, including water and sewer lines, sidewalks and streets, would require mapping out a plan and creating a budget to prioritize and work on everything.

Vandegrift said the city is already working towards making repairs, photographing and cleaning out almost all the old sewer lines, allowing them to pin-point problem areas. He estimated the cost at $300,000 to $400,000.

Vandegrift noted that increased occupational tax revenue has allowed the city to reduce the property tax rate by 25 percent, and he said he wants to do likewise with water bills if re-elected. “I see people struggle every month to pay those bills,” he said. “That’s a real way to put money back in people’s pockets.”

On other issues, Wilson said speeding is a major safety concern, and said he had recently met with the police chief to discuss specific areas that need immediate police presence to encourage safe driving, specifically Winter Street and East Stephens Street.

“There’s got to be more that we can do in that area,” Wilson said. “I think the police department is very willing to engage with us and work with us about these priorities.”

Vandegrift said more police presence is not the best long-term solution. He said that the city has already begun work on a comprehensive traffic plan, approved by the city council, to add sidewalk extensions at intersections and narrow trafficways with edge lines.

Wilson, a skeptic of the edge lines, said, “A citizen told me the best thing about the edge lines is it gives you a safe place to walk so you don’t have to walk on the sidewalks.”

Vandegrift said sidewalks, by law, are property owners’ responsibility, but the city last year started paying half of repairs up to $1,000

Candidates were also asked about a blighted property ordinance, which has been a priority for Vandegrift.

“It’s a snake-pit issue,” he said. “It is very difficult to deal with blighted property because, as it should be, the rights lie with the homeowners. We’ve got to be sensitive with people. There are people who struggle. You can’t just come tell them to go fix their property or else, but there are ways to help them.”

Vandegrift said the city needs a code enforcement board to make sure that city decisions regarding blighted property can be upheld in circuit court. Because the issue is complex, it would probably be best for the next city council to tackle the issue, he said.

Wilson replied, “The easy thing to do is to study it, put it off, wait ‘til after the election – a new council, but it needs to be addressed. You know, four years is long enough to come up with a plan to deal with blighted property.”

Wilson and Vandegrift agreed that there needs to be more affordable housing in Midway, where land prices are high. Vandegrift said he would like to start an Affordable Housing Task Force to help tackle the issue.

Vandegrift later added that with more affordable land, the city would be more likely to attract a hotel in the near future. “We also need to work with land developers to bring the land prices down a little bit. I think it’s a little too expensive right now to build a hotel here,” said Vandegrift, who said he has already been working closely with the Woodford County Economic Development Authority to attract a hotel. “We’re gonna get one here in Midway, it’s just a matter of time.”

Wilson said he is more concerned with fixing Midway’s sidewalks and streets than getting a hotel. “If I’m elected mayor, I don’t have a solution for getting a hotel in Midway, but I will concentrate on our sidewalks. I will concentrate on our streets,” he said.

In his opening statement, Vandegrift summed up his argument for himself: “We’re doing very well; let’s stay the course, let’s not mess with success.” 

Wilson said, “If I’m elected your mayor, I will care about the city of Midway the same way that I’ve cared about the educational process for the past 26 years. There's not a problem I won’t deal with.”

City Council forum: Council candidates also participated in a forum directly after the mayoral forum. Both were sponsored by the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Executive Director Don Vizi said Council Member Kaye Nita Gallagher was out of town and unable to attend, and candidate Danielle Doth arrived late because she was teaching a class in Versailles.

Left to right: Sara Hicks, Bruce Southworth, Stacy Thurman, Logan Nance, John McDaniel and John Holloway

The biggest topic for council candidates was whether they believed Midway’s downtown businesses were successful and what they would do to contribute to that success and attract new businesses. Council Member John McDaniel said he would like to bring a bourbon distillery to town, but several candidates said that they would like to see downtown businesses maintain regular hours, including Logan Nance, Danielle Doth and Council Member Sara Hicks.

“I truly believe that if we get consumers to Midway, that it will in turn attract business,” said Nance. “Whenever people come to Midway and stores that they want to visit aren’t open, it will discourage them from continuing to come visit our town.”

One way to encourage businesses to keep their stores open is to hold different events throughout the year to bring more people in rather than just relying on Keeneland twice a year, said Nance. The Midway Business Association is trying to have monthly events.

Hicks suggested that building owners consider converting spaces above businesses into lofts, to diversify business income and bring in regular customers who would help shops maintain a clientele during the winter.

Infrastructure needs were addressed several times, first by Nance. “I really think that’s something that everybody can look at and say that is the best use of our tax dollars,” he said.

McDaniel, Hicks and candidate John Holloway, the city’s volunteer park manager, agreed that infrastructure is a large part of fixing up Midway and making it a better place to live and work. Hicks and Council Member Bruce Southworth also suggested more recreational activities in town; both suggested partnering up with Midway University to create a recreational program or allow residential membership for university facilities.

Doth also agreed that the council should push for infrastructure repairs.  "I personally would like to see a public restroom. I'd like to see our park being supported more and encouraged,” she said. “There's so many awesome things that our town can offer. I feel like Midway is kind of an aging home. It just needs a little extra work to get it back up.”

Candidate Stacy Thurman called for forming neighborhood associations to help tackle issues regarding infrastructure repairs as well as infill development and housing needs. With neighborhood associations, problems could be addressed to the city through neighborhood representatives, making the process less overwhelming, she said.

“There’s a group of people already working on this and I don’t think … all people realize what a benefit this could be to our community,” Thurman said. “These neighborhoods would have a chance to work together to not only get to know each other, take care of each other and look out for each other, but also be advocates for their neighborhood.”

One of the final topics discussed was how to promote transparency in the council and improve community involvement.

Southworth said that the government is already practicing transparency. “Our records are open,” he said. “We have nothing to hide.”

Hicks, McDaniel and Holloway called for streaming council meetings on social media to help increase community awareness and involvement. Nance suggested posting the city budget online for easy public access, in addition to livestreaming council meetings.