MIDWAY CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION - MIDWAY IN GOOD FISCAL CONDITION & TIN MAN

By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff

The Midway City Council held a work session on Monday, May 22, to continue developing the budget for the 2023 fiscal year (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024). Councilmember Kaye Nita Gallagher was the only member not present.
Mayor Stacy Thurman led the council members through the administration’s proposed plan. Thurman noted that given how collegial and cooperative the council worked, that nothing was set in stone and that all items were up for discussion and decision. The council anticipates having its first reading of the budget at the next regular meeting as it proceeds towards adoption.
As demonstrated at the last regular meeting, the city is in solid fiscal condition. Thurman said the proposed budget was “conservative given the current needs” and that it would also allow the city to “plug away at things that need to be done.” The primary task aside from agreeing on a 6 percent wage increase for city employees, is knowing the capital projects that needed to be addressed this year and what was coming down the road.
While pointing out that Midway’s water rates are on the lower end of comparable municipalities, Thurman said that the budget will not require a rate increase. 
Each department head submitted a list of possible projects depending on both available funds and whether any emergency situations arise that impact available funds. Projects in the budget this year include: a water filling station for bottles and pets that will be constructed on Main Street; the cemetery roads will be paved as part of the Gayland paving project; a sidewalk between First and Second streets (along the southern side of Midway Road east of the Corner Grocery) which addresses a public safety issue; a contract for third-party maintenance for bearings in the sewer system; and, changing out old valves in the water system. Possible projects include: a new gear box and a new pump for the wastewater system, a new manhole behind Ed Hardy Road, and planning for a possible new generator at the wastewater plant.
Tin Man
There was a robust discussion about the unused water tower in town – known as the Tin Man – given there was no proposed line item relating to it. Councilmember Sarah Hicks expressed concern that the tower was not being discussed in this year’s budget and given that it’s iconic and many residents liked it being in the cityscape. she believed the council should explore options and even advertising opportunities. Thurman advised that she had been exploring some of the related issues and that she was “open to ideas” and that the council should continue its discussions. Councilmember Logan Nance cautioned that repair and abatement costs and other city priorities needed to be understood, and Councilmember Patrick Hall said that public safety should always be the determining factor. Hicks agreed but noted that the tower was a potential safety issue and that options needed to be understood so sound choices could be made. Council members Mary Raglin and Dee Mason echoed Hicks’ safety issues given the tower is visibly rusting. Thurman said this discussion was welcome, illuminating and why budget work sessions are important. She will reach out to other cities that have dealt with historic or iconic water towers that were no longer in use to help the council assess Midway’s options and welcomed other members to look for options to bring back for discussion.