Mayor declares state of emergency for pandemic, plans to offer council plan to allow curbside restaurant service

Screenshot of first page of emergency declaration

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift has joined the other two government executives in Woodford County in declaring a local state of emergency due to covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The declaration was made quietly. It was included in the packet for Monday night's City Council meeting. Vandegrift told the Messenger that it was "procedural," to make sure the city is eligible for any funding related to the pandemic.

The declaration says it allows the mayor to waive "procedures and formalities otherwise required by law pertaining to performance of public work, entering into contracts, incurring obligations, employment of permanent and temporary workers, utilization of volunteer workers, rental of equipment, appropriation and expenditure of public funds."

Later today, Vandegrift said he was adding to the meeting's agenda "a plan I’m working on with our restaurants and the business association to allow restaurants to offer curbside service during the pandemic. Details are still being worked out." Restaurateurs have voiced concern about the ban on spectators in the first half of the spring meet at Keeneland Race Course, one of their busiest times.

Gov. Andy Beshear, asked at this afternoon's press conference if Kentuckians should eat at restaurants this weekend, said "You need to avoid crowds. Now, does that mean you can go to a restaurant, as long as people are spread out? We're going to be putting up guidance for food service and that here soon, but again, you need to practice good judgment. If you're going to a place and you see a large crowd, with people close together, not six feet apart, that's not what we should be doing."

UPDATE, March 14: Asked the same question at Saturday's press conference, Beshear said, "Order takeout," and said he would. "We want to support that restaurant industry." About two hours later, the Holly Hill Inn sent out an email blast offering chicken and steak dinners for takeout Sunday from 4 to 5:30 p.m.