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In their meeting Monday evening via Zoom, the Midway City Council and Mayor Grayson Vandegrift heard from Michael Michalisin of Midway, chairman of the Woodford County Economic Development Authority, about the proposed deal to forgive EDA's utility-related debts to the city in return for Midway Station's strip of land along Interstate 64. |
By Warren Taylor University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media
The Midway City Council got a look at various layouts for the proposed East Stephens Street sidewalk Monday night.
The sidewalk would run a fourth of a mile from Stephens and Brand streets to the The Homeplace at Midway’s entrance on Sexton Drive. The issue stumping city officials and HMB Professional Engineers of Frankfort is exactly where to put it.
"One thing that we have been going back and forth on is what side of the road to put it on," Mayor Grayson Vandergrift said. "I told you all initially that I thought it might need to go on the Midway University side, but we've taken a second look at that, and we think there is a way to possibly do most of it on the residential side."
David Brown of HMB briefed the council on the different options for the asphalt walkway, which will be called a trail in order to qualify for grants.
The first option would see it start on the north side of Stephens. There would be a crosswalk in front of a brook between Oak and Richardson streets where the trail would cross to the south side of the road. Another crosswalk would be near Midway University’s entrance, shifting the trail back to the north side of the road. A third crosswalk would be located near the entrance to the Mill Road Place apartments, and the fourth would be at the Homeplace entrance.
"This option has four crossings of Stephens -- not ideal -- but definitely the easiest to install," said Brown.
The second option would keep the trail on the south side of the road with one crosswalk at the university entrance, but it would require more construction.
"Potentially a resident from the Homeplace would travel without crossing East Stephens,” Brown said. “This one . . . would involve some significant retaining walls."
The third option would be a hybrid of the other options. The trail would begin on the south side of Stephens and cross over at the university entrance, then back to the south side at the apartment and Homeplace entrances.
"It would limit the crossings on Stephens and would avoid the costly retaining walls," Brown said, but would require removal of some "mature trees."
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A high bank and a detention basin at the Mill Road apartments complicate plans for a trail to The Homeplace. (Image from Google street maps; to enlarge, click on it) |
Vandergrift said the third option was "the most doable" and that the second would be hard to do because of retaining walls eating into residents' back yards and a storm drain near the apartments.
Council Member Sara Hicks said she was concerned about a crosswalk in front of the Homeplace due to speedy drivers entering and leaving town.
"It's my impression that the further out of town you are, the greater danger there is of getting hit by a car that is going fast because of people's perception of being out of town and being in town,” she said. “I don't think that people think about slowing down really until they get to the Homeplace.”
Hicks said the crosswalk would be dangerous to older people who don't see or hear well. To avoid installing the crossing, she asked if there was any way that the trail could be moved back off the road and around various impediments, including a drainage detention basin near the street and the apartment complex.
Brown said that the plans "are not set in stone," but he doubts whether they have the width to build up an embankment to push the detention basin back.
The mayor said that the city would "go all out" to ensure pedestrian safety by installing flashing lights and a rumble strip to slow cars down at the crossings.
Council Member Logan Nance asked if it would be possible to start the sidewalk at the Homeplace and then have a crossing to the north side.
Brown said that is possible, especially in front of the apartments, but that "a more significant retaining wall" would be needed there. A diagram he showed the council said the wall would be six feet high.
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Lee Branch at Stephens Street (HMB Engineers photo) |
Council Member Stacy Thurman asked what would be done about the small bridge over Lee Branch near the university's soccer field.
Brown said their initial idea was to set up a steel pedestrian bridge next to the street, but there is hope to use another idea: "We are optimistic at this point that there may very possibly be enough room for the trail to hug along the side of the road there and use flexible delineators," bendable posts with reflectors and to separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Vandergrift said the city "plans on doing this project and budgeting it for fiscal year 2021-22" and that officials are looking into grants to pay for it.
He estimated the project would cost anywhere from $230,000 to $300,000, and with grants, the city might have to pay between $50,000 and $75,000.
Midway Station buffer land: The mayor briefed the council on a proposed agreement that the Woodford County Economic Development Authority approved in May 2020.
The property is about 35 acres along Midway Station's southern boundary. It serves as a buffer between the industrial park and Interstate 64, and was initially designated as a green space. Under the agreement, the city would take it in exchange for forgiving a debt ranging from $500,000 to $750,000 owed to it by the EDA for utility work done in the industrial park, most of which stems from the installation of a gas line.
EDA Chair Michael Michalisin of Midway said Vandegrift proposed the deal, and “I thought it was very elegant . . . an interesting, creative idea.” He said EDA’s auditors “don’t recognize it as a real debt” but the authority is “trying to be responsible” and the land needs to be “in the hands of the city.”
Vandergrift said the city’s auditors stopped listing the debts “years ago.” He said the city plans to restore the land with the intent of "beautifying Midway Station" with trees, bushes and flowers.
He also reported that Homer Freeny Jr. has signed a letter of intent to donate 13 acres of land adjoining the property to the city, including access to South Elkhorn Creek.
The creek access presents several opportunities for the city.
"We could lease it to Canoe Kentucky or the proposed RV park if they come in," Vandergrift said.
The Freeny land’s creek entry point, the mayor said, is nine miles from where the Kentucky Bluegrass Experience RV Resort would be located.
The land could also benefit the Midway Fire Department.
Vandergrift said the department needs more space, and the city looked into buying the building next door to the department's downtown location, but "It is not currently for sale."
Instead, an auxiliary fire station could be built on the newly acquired land that could serve as a training facility, he said. It could also house the department’s new ladder truck, which does not fit in the current station.
Vandegrift said city attorney Sharon Gold is revising the proposed agreement with EDA and he may present it to the council for approval as early as March 15.