Story and photo by Ana Neal
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media
Mayor Grayson Vandegrift presented dual ordinances to the city council Monday evening for cutting sewer rates, saying the city needs a new baseline for the service.
Vandegrift said he prefers a 25 percent cut, which would mean the current monthly rate of $14.60 for the first 1,000 gallons of water used would be lowered to $10.95, and everything over 1,000 gallons would go from $7.30 to $5.47.
The 15 percent cut, which Council Member Bruce Southworth favors, would mean the rate would go from $14.60 to $12.41 for the first 1,000 gallons and from $7.30 to $6.21 for over 1,000 gallons.
Vandegrift said Midway was financially set back in 2002 to pay for the new sewer plant, but now that the debt is paid off, four years early, rates could be lowered. “Too often government will take money when they need it but they never give it back when they don’t,” he said.
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media
Mayor Grayson Vandegrift presented dual ordinances to the city council Monday evening for cutting sewer rates, saying the city needs a new baseline for the service.
Vandegrift said he prefers a 25 percent cut, which would mean the current monthly rate of $14.60 for the first 1,000 gallons of water used would be lowered to $10.95, and everything over 1,000 gallons would go from $7.30 to $5.47.
The 15 percent cut, which Council Member Bruce Southworth favors, would mean the rate would go from $14.60 to $12.41 for the first 1,000 gallons and from $7.30 to $6.21 for over 1,000 gallons.
Vandegrift said Midway was financially set back in 2002 to pay for the new sewer plant, but now that the debt is paid off, four years early, rates could be lowered. “Too often government will take money when they need it but they never give it back when they don’t,” he said.
The second reading and vote on both ordinances is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 17. Vandegrift said the council also has the option of leaving rates as they are. A new council takes office Jan.1.
Vandegrift touched on the projected cost for a sewer-improvement project with HMB Professional Engineers. This project would focus on cleaning out the old lines in town, tree root removal, and inspections. He said he thought the project would cost around $300,000, but the HMB is projecting only $107,000.
The mayor said the city has two choices, “one side with HMB as the engineer, and one is with us essentially doing it ourselves.” Vandegrift also said that Chris Stewart of HMB will attend a council meeting in a month or so to explain the project in more detail.
Fire department gift: Jimmy Keaton, government-affairs director for Kentucky American Water Co., presented a $500 check to the Midway Fire Department.
Keaton said, “Our firefighting support grant program is one way we can say thank you so very, very much to the men and women of these departments for their tireless dedication.”
The assistant chief of the fire department, Joe Campbell, accepted the check and said the money will be used for a new firefighting curriculum, including textbooks.
Iron Horse: Next year will be the 10th year of the Iron Horse Half Marathon, but it will be held about a month earlier, in conjunction with the Midway Fall Festival, under a permit the council approved. The Midway Business Association, which sponsors the festival, adopted the idea last month.
Because the race has been held on Sundays at 8 a.m., race representative Riley Marshall said, the biggest thing they hear from their runners is that they have little chance on a Sunday morning in mid-October to “drink in” what Midway has to offer.
Marshall and Zach Beavin, another representative, said parking will be available at Southern Equine Farm and Midway University. Asked how they will prevent runners from parking on the street, they offered the idea of issuing parking passes beforehand. The race will be run from 7 to 10 a.m.
Other business: Rex Cecil’s request for the council to waive the $850 fee for restoring water to properties that have been inactive for five years was approved. The council agreed that Cecil could only pay the deposit fee of $75 for his building at 123 E. Main St.
Vandegrift touched on the projected cost for a sewer-improvement project with HMB Professional Engineers. This project would focus on cleaning out the old lines in town, tree root removal, and inspections. He said he thought the project would cost around $300,000, but the HMB is projecting only $107,000.
The mayor said the city has two choices, “one side with HMB as the engineer, and one is with us essentially doing it ourselves.” Vandegrift also said that Chris Stewart of HMB will attend a council meeting in a month or so to explain the project in more detail.
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| Assistant Chief Joe Campbell and Kentucky American's Jimmy Keaton |
Keaton said, “Our firefighting support grant program is one way we can say thank you so very, very much to the men and women of these departments for their tireless dedication.”
The assistant chief of the fire department, Joe Campbell, accepted the check and said the money will be used for a new firefighting curriculum, including textbooks.
Iron Horse: Next year will be the 10th year of the Iron Horse Half Marathon, but it will be held about a month earlier, in conjunction with the Midway Fall Festival, under a permit the council approved. The Midway Business Association, which sponsors the festival, adopted the idea last month.
Because the race has been held on Sundays at 8 a.m., race representative Riley Marshall said, the biggest thing they hear from their runners is that they have little chance on a Sunday morning in mid-October to “drink in” what Midway has to offer.
Marshall and Zach Beavin, another representative, said parking will be available at Southern Equine Farm and Midway University. Asked how they will prevent runners from parking on the street, they offered the idea of issuing parking passes beforehand. The race will be run from 7 to 10 a.m.
Other business: Rex Cecil’s request for the council to waive the $850 fee for restoring water to properties that have been inactive for five years was approved. The council agreed that Cecil could only pay the deposit fee of $75 for his building at 123 E. Main St.
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