Council discusses school, OKs short-term economic developer, hears fire department has its first ladder truck

Northside Elementary School is scheduled to welcome students Aug, 26. (File photo by Megan Parsons, 2019)

This story has been updated.

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Midway City Council and Mayor Grayson Vandegrift spent much of their meeting Monday sharing their thoughts on re-opening schools amid the covid-19 pandemic.

The council also approved a short-term contract for an economic developer, passed an ordinance easing paperwork rules for volunteer work on city property, made one block of Johnson Street one-way, and heard that Vandegrift bought a used ladder truck for the fire department.

The Woodford County Board of Education is planning to resume classes Aug. 26 with a dual option, in which parents can send children to school or have them do virtual learning, online at home. The board will have a special meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11.

“We want kids to go back to school at some point,” Vandegrift said. “My main concern, though, is if you go back in and we’re not ready to control the spread, if there are four to five kids a week testing positive for coronavirus and we can’t truly test for it the spread is going to continue.”

Vandegrift’s estimate was based on research that uses county infection rates to estimate the number of infected people likely to arrive at a school of 500 in the first week.

The mayor called for delaying the in-person start date, saying said more testing is needed first, to allow tracing the contacts of infected people and asking them to quarantine.

“I think the board should seriously consider delaying an open that allows students to enter the school until we can guarantee more testing,” he said. “I’m not putting that on Woodford County; the health department has done an unbelievable job, but everywhere this thing spreads, you can’t tell where it’s coming or going, and that’s because of testing.”

Council Member Sara Hicks raised concerns about parents who have health risks but face losing their jobs if their children do not go back to school: “If you say you can your kids or not send your kids, it sounds like that’s just a free decision, but I don’t think that’s really a free decision for people who don’t have the financial wherewithal to put their jobs in jeopardy.”

Council Member Stacy Thurman didn't opine about opening but said the school board should get support no matter what decision it makes: “We need unity, we need a united front and we need solidarity with the board and the county.”

“There’s no good solution,” said Thurman, mother of a fourth grader and an eighth grader. “Both solutions are bad and inconvenient and hard.”

Council Member Logan Nance agreed, saying “The bigger risk than covid to our community is the divisiveness and the language we’re using to talk to one another.” He also didn’t give the school board any advice, and no other council members spoke on the topic.

The City Council usually does not involve itself in school matters, “but this is an unprecedented situation,” Vandegrift said, and the final call will be “the most important decision that board has made in a long time, if not ever.” 

The mayor said at the start of the discussion, “We don’t in any way ever want to step on another board or jurisdiction’s toes,” adding later, “I think it well help them to have an idea how our city, our constituency, our end of the county feels about this.” At the end of the discussion, he said Midway-area school-board member Ambrose Wilson posted his thanks on the Facebook page that carried the meeting.

Other business: The council unanimously approved a six-month contract with Fortune Solutions LLC and point person Lucas Whitt to staff the Woodford County Economic Development Authority for six months, filling the role played by retired EDA chair John Soper.

Whitt worked with Midway on the location of Lakeshore Learning Materials when he worked with the state Economic Development Cabinet, Vandegrift said: "He's well aware of what is going on in Midway Station." The city will pay him $1,050 a month; Soper was paid $1,333.

Most of the pay will come from Versailles and the county government; Vandegrift said he, Mayor Brian Traugott and Judge-Executive James Kay agreed on the temporary hire to give them time to develop “a more concrete, more comprehensive” request for proposals from potential long-term hires.

The council defeated, with lack of a motion, Council Member John Holloway's proposal to rename and replace “Sparks in the Park,” normally held on July 3 or 4, with a celebration on June 19 to honor Juneteenth, a now official city holiday, to honor the end of slavery.

Vandegrift said he had discussed with Holloway “what could be done,” and asked for a motion, but none came. He said Sparks in the Park would continue but “We are going to have a Juneteenth celebration next year on June 19, which happens to fall on a Saturday.”

Interviews after the meeting, via email, indicated that the opposition stemmed from the idea of doing away with Sparks in the Park.

"I'm really excited to work with members of the black community here in Midway to honor and celebrate Juneteenth as they see fit. I also didn't want to do away with Sparks in the Park," Nance said. "It's a fun event for families and members of the community to come together and socialize and celebrate Independence Day. I know John's heart was in the right place when he wrote the resolution, but instead of repurposing Sparks in the Park I would rather keep that tradition and create a new, special tradition to honor Juneteenth."

Thurman said, "I appreciate the thought process behind this resolution and feel that Midway should definitely commemorate Juneteenth next year. I didn't make a motion to accept this resolution simply because I think both of these events provide great opportunities to bring our community together and I don't think we have to substitute one for the other."

Hicks said, “I believe Sparks is a loved tradition that should not be eliminated. I am also happy to add another celebration of Juneteenth. There are many reasons to celebrate in Midway.”

Holloway said, "Maybe I'm a purist, but it seems like a Fourth of July celebration should be on the Fourth of July. Juneteenth is 15 days before Sparks in the Park, and it seems strange to have two events that close together.  I was afraid that even if we actually have a Juneteenth celebration (which frankly seems unlikely), the tendency would be for it to become a lesser stepchild – which to me smacks of separate but equal, and I'm totally opposed to that, as we all should be."

The council also:

●    Heard the mayor announce the purchase of a used ladder truck from Stewart County, Tennessee, for $13,500, using state fire aid money and a city appropriation that was going to be used for an antenna but is no longer needed. Vandegrift said the city needs a ladder truck more than ever, with major facilities in Midway Station. He said Stewart County bought the truck used from Beverly Hills, Calif., but “The truck’s in great condition” and has been driven less than 50,000 miles.
●    Unanimously approved an ordinance simplifying volunteer work on city property. Volunteers will no longer be required to sign in and out each time, and won't be required to be under city supervision at all times, since they would sign a waiver of liability. The change confirms current practice.

●    Unanimously made the 200 block of Johnson Street a one-way street, from Gratz Street to Brand Street, effective Sept. 1. Nance said he interviewed all but one resident of the block, and all but one were in favor of the change.

●    Heard Vandegrift report that more than 700 people watched Wednesday’s online forum about traffic issues, and almost 80 made comments. One suggested traffic cameras to catch and ticket speeders, but the mayor said he had learned such cameras are illegal in Kentucky.

Before the moment of reflection at the start of the meeting, Vandegrift asked members and the online audience to remember the late Joyce Logan and the late Pat Wilson and their families.

Restaurants get designated parking spaces for pickup and delivery; officials brief council on covid-19 response

Business was slow on Main Street's restaurant row around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, despite spaces reserved for pickup.

What does a restaurant-heavy town do when a pandemic hits and the governor says no one in the state can eat inside a restaurant? City officials make it easier for restaurants to offer pickup and delivery.

That's what the Midway City Council did Monday night, setting aside three parking spaces for each restaurant and their customers to use until Gov. Andy Beshear lifts his order closing bars and restaurants to inside service.

The council also heard updates from first responders about how Woodford County is dealing with the new coronavirus and the respiratory disease it causes, covid-19.

The council approved Mayor Grayson Vandegrift's plan to put signs on three parking spaces in front of each Main Street restaurant for customers to pick up takeout orders. He said the bicycle racks in front of the Goose and Gander would be removed to create shared parking spaces for delivery vehicles.

"It gives them some semblance of authority to do this, and encourage people to use that service," Vandegrift said. "If we need to tweak this as we go, I think that's fine." Asked how it would be enforced, he said police could check a vehicle's license plate and track down the owner. He said he would "use public pressure" to keep restaurant owners and employees form using the spaces.

Vandegrift said the idea is to encourage people to support the restaurants. They rely on out-of-town trade and bring traffic to other businesses. He said Cortney Neikirk, president of the Midway Business Association, consulted "every merchant she could find" about the plan and they all agreed with it. He said other steps may be needed later to help retailers.

Holly Hill Inn on North Winter Street won't offer delivery, but its sister restaurant, Wallace Station on Old Frankfort Pike, will deliver all over Woodford County, owner Ouita Michel said in a Facebook video Monday. She said she is giving give health-care professionals a 10 percent discount, will keep buying local food, "and I want to encourage you to do the same," by shopping at farmers' markets.

The Woodford County Tourism Commission is gathering and publishing information from restaurants and retailers on its Facebook page.

Woodford County Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler talked about priorities in responding to the coronavirus.

Emergency report: County Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler, in his report on the county's reaction to the pandemic, reminded the council of the reasons for the governor's order.

"We're dealing with something that has rapid spread and no vaccine," unlike the flu, he said. "Our health care has so much capacity. You've seen reports out of Italy, where they have to choose who gets the ventilator and who passes away. We don't want that to happen. That's why we're implementing the social distancing," to slow the spread of the virus. "If we can prolong the period of time, the system can respond better."

Vandegrift said, "People need to take the social distancing very seriously. . . . We're going to be in this for the long haul. It's going to be uncomfortable. By the long haul, I mean it could last through the summer. I think the more we practice social distancing, the more we take these recommendations . . . the shorter the time's going to be," and the fewer people will die.

Chandler said, "It's important while we're social distancing that we not isolate ourselves and get stir-crazy." Council Member John Holloway later advised, "Go walk in the park," which he manages.

Holloway spoke after Council Member Stacy Thurman reported that a group of Midway citizens has organized to help "people who are very isolated right now and are high-risk and may not be able to get out of their house at all." She said they are planning to hang notices on all doors or porches in town, offering help with errands.

Chandler said the main effect of the state of emergency that local government executives declared last week is to "open up procurement" so goods and services can be obtained quickly. When he found that police were having to bring hand sanitizer from home, he said, the county got some from the state.

Versailles Police Chief Mike Murray said his department, which patrols the whole county, would maintain all services but has taken some steps to reduce personal contact, such as investigating petty crimes by telephone. He said the shoplifting he feared hasn't happened, and "Our call volume, overall, has kind of declined a little bit."

Chandler said the county road department increased its bulk fuel purchases to guard against shortages, and fire departments are being cautious about possible exposure on medical-assistance calls, assessing patients "from a good distance" so they don't have to waste any personal protective equipment, supplies of which are expected to run short.

"The biggest thing we can do right now," Chandler said, "is to maintain situational awareness." Chandler said someone in the county probably has the virus but there have been no positive tests. Beshear has said every county will eventually have a case.

In other business, the council formally accepted the recent audit report for the 2018-19 fiscal year, and held a public hearing and first reading on an ordinance to replace the telephone-line fee for 9-1-1 emergency service with a $59 fee on each residential address, to be placed on county tax bills. "Everyone seems to be behind this idea," Vandegrift said.

Thurman, chair of the city's Workplace Housing Task Force, said it has concluded that the city needs a professional assessment of housing needs and wants in the city, not only seeing what citizens think but getting the opinions of out-of-towners who work in Midway and might move here.

Burn ban over; leaf collection, water-main flushing set

The rain yesterday and today prompted Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift to rescind the ban on open burning that he issued Sept. 19. He said in an email, "This is a good time to remind folks though that any recreational burning must be in a contained structure like a fire pit, and burning brush or vegetation is prohibited."

Meanwhile, leaf collection in the city will begin Monday, Oct 14, Vandegrift has announced. "Please leave your leaf piles in the right of way and city employees will pick them up," he said. "Please don’t leave any sticks or brush in leaf piles; they can damage our chipper."

Also on Monday, city employees will begin their periodic flushing of water mains by opening fire hydrants to clean the water system of mineral deposits and sediment. Residents may notice cloudy tap water for a short time. The water will be safe to drink, but residents should avoid doing laundry until the water clears.

Mayor bans open burning in city due to dry conditions

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said this morning that he has issued an executive order temporarily banning open burning in the city limits. "The especially wet 2018 followed by this very dry season make conditions worse than usual for potential danger," he aid in an email to the city council and the news media. "Cooking on grills is still permitted, but recreational fire pits and any other burning normally permitted is being temporarily suspended until further notice. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions."

City Council approves budget with $200K for sewers, $50K for curb extensions and many other additions

The City of Midway's budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is the probably the largest in the town's history, with General Fund appropriations of $1.9 million and a projected surplus of $488,601.

"It's likely the biggest ever," Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said as the City Council approved the budget on a 4-0 vote in an eight-minute special meeting Thursday. Members Sara Hicks and Kaye Nita Gallagher were absent, but they had attended all three workshops at which the council tweaked the budget Vandegrift had proposed.

The budget has been boosted mainly by increased occupational taxes on payrolls and net profits, mainly from the Midway Station industrial park. The council has lowered property taxes and water rates in the past year.

Holding up the budget, the mayor said, "This, as much as anything, is a policy document. What this shows is that our policy focuses on infrastructure."

The biggest infrastructure item is $200,000 for a project to examine and clean out the old sewer lines on the east side of town and see where repairs and replacements are needed. $50,000 is budgeted for curb extensions, or "bulb-outs" on Winter Street at the intersections of Bruen and Stephens streets, to help slow traffic and increase pedestrian safety.

The plan has $40,000 for interest payments on Midway Station, which are no longer made by the developer who gave up his option on the property, but the city and the Woodford County Economic Development Authority are hoping property sales will eliminate the need for interest payments.

The budget also adds $10,000 for new signs; $5,000 for new City Hall computers; $5,000 for the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, which has come to the county with the help of the Fiscal Court and the Versailles City Council; $2,000 for local churches' backpack meal program for needy children; and about $11,000 to join the Woodford County geographic information system, which Vandegrift said would help track infrastructure.

The budget includes $10,000 and $15,000, respectively, for repairs and maintenance on the firehouse, up from $5,000 and $10,000 in the current year; and $1,000 for the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce, up from $500. The Versailles Police Department will get $27,000 more as the city shares in the one-time cost of computer and telephone upgrades to the department, which patrols all of Woodford County. Under a contract, Midway pays 4.25 percent of the department's budget.

New county fire department station under construction; could help clear the way for an ambulance station

Work continued this morning just west of Midway on the new station for the Woodford County Fire Department, following removal of rock and placing of a culvert last week. Local officials hope the site of the current station can be repurposed into an ambulance station for the northern part of the county.

Mayor cancels ban on open burning in Midway

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift has canceled his executive order banning all open fires in the city. "The burn ban has been lifted, but please use extreme caution when having contained burnings, as drought conditions still persist," Vandegrift said in an email today.

Firefighter leaders Armstrong, Price build city's department over 23 years of volunteer work

Story, photo and video by Leah Sharp

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Midway Fire Chief Butch Armstrong and Assistant Chief Vincent Price make up a long-running team at the Midway Fire Department.

This summer, Armstrong and Price celebrated their 23-year anniversary of being chief and assistant chief. They took on their leadership roles in June 1993.

“The only way I was going to take on being chief is if Vince would serve as assistant chief,” Armstrong recalled.

Armstrong has been with the fire department since he was 20, in 1974. He said he joined “because it was a family thing on my in-laws’ side of the family” and his brother-in-law invited him to join.

Price joined the department in 1976. He grew up in Midway, he said, so “it was a calling” for him to become a firefighter.

Armstrong said that a little after he had joined the department, Midway made some changes by stopping “old habits of being unorganized.” 

“Before Midway organized the volunteer fire station, a siren would go off and whomever could come to the station would hop on a truck and go put out the fire,”  Armstrong recalled. Now a team is organized to come to the fire station if a call is made.

“What once started out to having just a helmet and rubber jacket to now having a full body suit,” Armstrong said. “A lot has changed since we have joined.”

Current regulations require all volunteers to have their own full body suit and accessories that come with it.

The department has 13 volunteer firefighters. Armstrong works at Lehman’s antiques store. Price has been retired for 12 years.

Armstrong and Price said they have no intentions of stepping down from their positions any time soon.

“Together we have stuck it out, and built it up with the city’s help,” Armstrong said. “I think we did a good job.” In 2015, the city bought a new fire truck, and they were able to customize it to fit their needs. Price talks about the "brotherhood" of the department:

Red Cross, firefighters, other volunteers canvass town to install free smoke alarms and educate citizens

By Claire Johnson
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Nathan Bardeen of Eastern Kentucky University installed an alarm.
(Photos by Shawn McLuckie, American Red Cross)

Many residents of Midway got an early wake-up call Saturday as members of the American Red Cross, community volunteers and area fire departments offered free installation and battery replacement of smoke alarms.

The project was part of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign.

Steve Powell, the Red Cross disaster program manager for the Bluegrass area, said the mission of the campaign is to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent by 2019.

“Kentucky really took an initiative with this program and leadership to make it a priority,” Powell said.

Fifteen members of the Red Cross and up to 30 volunteers from the community and fire departments met at Midway Baptist Church before setting out to their specified destinations on maps.

From morning to afternoon, Red Cross workers, volunteers, Eastern Kentucky University Fire & Safety program members and firefighters from the Midway and Woodford County fire departments worked door to door installing small smoke alarms and educating citizens about them.

Three-member teams, one Red Cross representative and two assistants, visited on roughly 20 houses before re-supplying or receiving a map of a different neighborhood.

Quinton Godfrey of EKU watched Nathan Bardeen and Sally Higgins of the Red Cross.

A red vest and two fire department volunteers greeted the citizens as they went door to door with supplies and safety information.

Chief Gerald Walsh of the Versailles Fire Department designed the map of the town with highlighted areas.

“I arrange the streets by how many houses there were,” Walsh said. “As they finish the street, I will hand them another map.”

Anne Peters, 58, who has lived in Midway for about 12 years, thought her smoke detector was fine until one of the teams found that it needed to be replaced.

“I had sort of been counting on it working,” Peters said with a laugh. “So if it’s not working and they catch that, that’s definitely helpful.”

After installing a detector, the teams made sure residents like Peters knew two different exit plans to use in case of fire, and took down their information to keep track of what they did in each home.

The Home Fire Campaign, according to Powell, is on pace to install about 5,000 smoke alarms this year in Kentucky.

“Certainly it never hurts to have somebody remind you,” Peters said. “A lot of people have lived here since the neighborhoods were built, so they might not know about the regulations on smoke alarms.”

Bobby Allison, one Midwegian who had a home smoke alarm installed Saturday, agreed that it can be hard to remember them.

“I don’t know how many people actually check them, or if they think they’re just going to work forever, because they’re not,” Allison said. “I try to check mine as much as I can when I think about it, but at 77 sometimes you forget.”

Midway firefighter Joe Hudson said reminding seniors is a prime benefit of the campaign.

“We have a lot of older families that live in Midway and they don’t even think about the smoke detectors until it’s brought to their attention,” Hudson said.

Hudson recalled a woman who was hearing impaired and did not know Red Cross offered bedside alarms. Hudson said one of the teams arranged for a Red Cross member to contact her soon and get a bedside alarm for her.

“There’s a lot of them that’s very happy to see us out in the community doing this for them,” Hudson said. “Midway is such a small, rural community. You know, we’re kind of like the little back leg of the county and nobody really thinks about it or anything until sometimes it’s too late.”

Powell said issues like Hudson mentioned are exactly why the Red Cross tries to aid rural communities like Midway in the Home Fire Campaign.

“Not all of the rural towns are able to staff full-time fire departments,” Powell said. “A lot of them are volunteer services,” Powell said.

Powell said the Home Fire Campaign has already been documented saving three lives in Western Kentucky.

He said most people might not know how much fire work the Red Cross does.

“I think when people think of the Red Cross they think of natural disasters, but primarily what we respond to weekly are home fires,” Powell said.

Shawn McLuckie of the Red Cross said educating citizens and reducing fire deaths are the main goals of this campaign.

“This is completely free to all residents; we’re not charging them a thing,” McLuckie said. “I feel it’s very good to come in to these communities and do this. It gives the power of choice to the communities. It’s reducing fire death and it’s making educated community members.”

Council OKs measures to bring 262-employee plant to Midway Station; property-tax cut; snow-removal bid

By Elizabeth Allen, Claire Johnson, Alex Kearns, Emily Priddy and Ben Wolford
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Midway City Council approved financing mechanisms for Midway's soon-to-be largest employer, a tax cut for property owners and a bid for snow removal at its meeting Tuesday evening.

Lakeshore Learning Materials, an educational-products company, is expected to bring 262 new workers to its new distribution center in Midway. They will receive a tax break, paying an occupational tax of 1.5 percent instead of the normal 2 percent for 10 years, as part of the incentive package that helped attract the company.

Paul Chisholm, VP of Lakeshore Learning Materials

Paul Chisholm, the company's vice president of Eastern U.S. distribution, said he and his colleagues spent 15 months in "five or six states" looking for a location for the new facility. “It was really the culture of Midway that fit with our third-generation, family-run business,” he told the council.

There are other incentives. The financing package will put the future Lakeshore property in the name of city. In turn, the city will lease the property to the company, and the lease payments will be equal to the bond payments, about $50 million. This is less than the American Howa auto-parts plant being built in Midway Station, which will employ about 60.

Bond attorney Mark Franklin of Louisville said the city will have no liability, and the package is the only way in state law to exempt an industry from state, county and city property taxes. However, the deal will not shortchange Woodford County schools, because a "payment in lieu of taxes" agreement sets Lakeshore up to pay the schools what they would have paid in taxes.

"Generally, companies do not want to short the schools, especially a company in the business of providing educational materials," Franklin said.

Veteran Council Member Dan Roller asked what would happen "if our new friends decide to walk away in five years." Franklin said Lakeshore would pay off the bonds and take title to the property, making it taxable.

Two council members asked about support facilities that could make Midway a more attractive as a potential residence for new workers and their employers.

Roller asked if a child-care facility would be provided, and Sara Hicks asked if a gym could also be considered "so we could keep our workers healthy." Such facilities could also make Midway an attractive place of residence, rather than a commuting destination, for new workers and their employers.

The child-care center is a good idea, said John Soper, chairman of the Woodford County Economic Development Authority, which owns the property. EDA Executive Director Craig McAnelly said a gym has also been discussed. Chisholm said the company has a child-care facility at its California headquarters.

Mayor Grayson Vandergrift thanked Soper and McAnelly for bringing Lakeshore to Midway Station, which had been a failed industrial park and will now be a mixed-use development, with commercial and residential areas too.

“A lot of people worked to get this done … and I appreciate it,” Vandegrift said. “We’ve had an empty piece of land there for a long long time that had an uncertain future and in the last year we have basically set our city on a financial path forward. Not very many small cities in Kentucky can say that.”

Property taxes: The council passed on second and final reading an ordinance setting a lower real-estate tax rate for bills that will be mailed this fall: 10.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, down from 10.7 cents last year. The rate will generate about the same amount of money because property values in the city have gone up. The personal property tax rate for 2017 rate will remain 14 cents.

Park board: The council approved the first reading of an ordinance to establish a park board to "conserve, manage and sustain" the city's parks, following a recommendation from from the Citizens Advisory Committee. Council Member Libby Warfield said the board would take some of the burden and responsibility for the park from the council.

The board would have five to seven members, including at least one council member, all appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. One member would serve as park manager, reflecting the high level of recent volunteer activity at Walter Bradley Park. Members could live outside the city limits but would have to be residents of Woodford County.

Snow removal: The council geared up for winter weather by extending the deal with the city’s snow removal contractor, Wright’s Farm Services of Richmond, after removing a provision that would have required the city to provide a backhoe for loading salt. "Salt's hard on equipment," said Council Member Bruce Southworth, who asked for the change.

The other bidder for snow removal was Parks Landscape Group of Versailles, which asked for $30,000 for the winter or $90 per truck hour plus $225 per ton of salt. Wright's bid was a maximum of $1,562 for a 2-inch snowfall, with lesser charges for salting without plowing. The bids are part of the council's document packet, downloadable here.

A helping hand: The council heard first reading of an ordinance for refinancing of $1.8 million in tax-exempt bonds for the Lexington Montessori School. All Kentucky cities can issue a limited amount of tax-free bonds each year; Midway's limit is $10 million, but Lexington has already exceeded its limit, Vandegrift said. Four students from Midway attend the school. City attorney Phil Moloney said such bonds incur no liability to the city.

Basketball blacktop: The city's current blacktop contractor reduced his bid for resurfacing the city basketball court to $5,000, from $9,000, leaving the total cost of this year's paving just under the $80,000 the city budgeted. The contractor is getting about $74,000 to pave Northside Drive, and city officials argued that his incremental cost to do the basketball court would be much lower than what he bid.

Smoke alarms: Vandegrift noted that the Red Cross and emergency-services volunteers will canvass targeted neighborhoods Saturday to install free smoke detectors. He said volunteers are still needed, and should meet at the city firehouse at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided.

Sidewalk repairs: The mayor said a list of sidewalks approved for cost-sharing from the city, because repairs would improve public safety, will be provided at the next meeting, Sept. 19.

Information for this story was also gathered by Marissa Beucler, Matthew Hunter, Olivia Jones, Evan Merrill and Kaitlin Taylor of the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media.  

Red Cross and local safety agencies to install free smoke alarms Sept. 10; sign up at 873-5829

The Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross is partnering with Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift, emergency service agencies in Woodford County (county fire department, ambulance service and emergency management; and the Midway and Versailles fire departments) and other community partners to install smoke alarms where needed in Midway and the county.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, volunteer teams from the Red Cross and the agencies will install smoke alarms free of charge to city and county residents from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The teams will visit targeted neighborhoods, but residents can also sign up in advance by contacting Jerald Wash at 873-5829.

The effort is part of the Red Cross's nationwide Home Fire Campaign, which has a goal of reducing the number of deaths and injuries due to home fires by 25 percent over the next five years. "Seven times a day someone in this country dies in a home fire," the Red Cross said in a press release. "Countless others suffer injuries."  

“Installing smoke alarms cuts the risk of someone dying from a home fire in half, so we are joining with the fire department and other community volunteers to install smoke alarms,” Steve Powell, Red Cross disaster program manager, said in the release. “We also will be teaching people how to be safe from a home fire.”

In Kentucky last year, the Red Cross responded to nearly 1,400 disasters, most of which were fires in single-family homes. As part of the Home Fire Campaign, the Red Cross is asking everyone to take "two simple steps that can save lives: check their existing smoke alarms and practice fire drills at home." For more safety tips visit http://rdcrss.org/JwSNUG.

Council discusses water-sewer rates, what it might do for system if there's money to spend

By Tiffany Broughton
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Water has been a long-discussed topic in Midway but it was brought up with new perspectives at Monday evening's city council meeting. When Mayor Grayson Vandegrift asked the council for any final remarks after a light business session, Council Member Bruce Southworth raised the topic.

Southworth noted that Kentucky American Water Co., the city’s wholesale supplier, has asked for a rate increase for its wholesale customers, and said Midway’s water isn't as pricey as residents may think. He cited figures from the Bluegrass Area Development District, showing that Midway's price per 2,000 gallons is $22.94 and the average of cities the same size is $21.77. Midway ranks eighth among the 12 small cities for that amount, and eighth or ninth for larger amounts. (Click on images for larger versions)

But water bills also include sewer charges, and Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said the overall bills are high because the city had to build a new, updated sewage-treatment plant in 2000 before the old plant had been paid off and is still paying off both plants.

Even so, the cost for "wastewater is below average," said Southworth. "You could move to Lexington and save $5 on your water bill if that's what you want to do. It's a misconception that water is higher in Midway."

Council Member Sarah Hicks asked if the plants could be paid off early if Midway were to have a windfall of money. The city ended the last fiscal year with a cash balance of $567,000 after expenses of $788,000 and unexpectedly high revenues of $1 million.

Vandegrift said the bonds on the old sewer plant are to be retired in 2018 and cannot be paid off early, but those on the new plant can. They run through 2022. He said, “It may cut the sewer rates in half if you paid both of them off,” which could happen as early as 2018.

However, the sewer system needs repairs, and Council Member Dan Roller said, “We’re spending very little money on our storm sewers now. They’re in awful shape.”

Vandegrift said, “The city is going to have to invest some of that money in infrastructure improvements. . . . We will cross that bridge when we get to it.” He said the city would consider investing in sidewalks and water lines.

Park committee is active

Vandegrift reported that the citizens advisory committee for Walter Bradley Park is making strides other than just advising.

Vandegrift said the committee has formed a volunteer group that will be laying mulch, donated by Midway-area nursery operator Dave Leonard, across all trails to make them more useful. "It will look nicer and be easier to walk on," he said.

Vandegrift reported that the committee is "working diligently and meeting once a month." The chair of this committee is Cecilia Gass.

The committee has raised a little over $2,500 through donations and $10 fees to be “friends of the park, Vandegrift said. More information on becoming a friend of the park can be found at www.facebook.com/WalterGBradleyPark.

The committee is working with University of Kentucky graduate students and will report back to the council in late spring or early summer with ideas, said Vandegrift. "This is going to be beneficial to the city in the long run," he said. "They are helping improve our city out of love."

The Walter Bradley Park citizens advisory committee will hold a public forum March 21at 6:30 p.m.  at City Hall to solicit ideas from the community.

Vandegrift said the other citizen advisory committee he appointed, to work on grants, is headed by Jo Gleese. She is also the new president of the Midway Renaissance civic group. Vandegrift said the committee’s focus needs to be on grants for infrastructure, such as roads and sidewalks.

Other business

The council approved a resolution to give $16,384.01 left over from a community development block grant for housing to Habitat for Humanity for the building of its latest home at 209 E. Stephens St.

The council approved a resolution declaring surplus the city’s 1982 Ford fire truck and 1984 fire-department van. The council did this informally at its last meeting, but Vandegrift said city attorney Phil Moloney thought a resolution was advisable.

The resolution says the vehicles can be sold "through sealed bids . . . or in any other reasonable commercial manner." Council member Libby Warfield asked, "What does ‘any other commercial manner’ mean?" Vandegrift replied, "I don't know, but I’ll let you know if it comes up."

The council voted to approve an event permit for the Race for Education on April 16. "The Race to Read" will have 200 to 300 runners, Council Member Kaye Nita Gallagher said.

The runners will start on West Main Street at the corner of North Winter Street, go down South Turner Street, out West Stephens Street and Spring Station Road and wrap back around for those running 10 kilometers. The race will run from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Vandegrift said owners of the log home on East Higgins Street that is in need of cleanup will be given only a few more days to do the maintenance. He said a lien will be placed on the property for the amount of work the city workers have to do if it is not cleaned up.

The meeting closed with a comment from Vandegrift that people have until March 1 to remove all artificial flowers from the cemetery.

The council meets the first and third Mondays of each month at 5:30. The next meeting will be March 7.

Midway is about to become even more of a railroad town, as the permanent home of a steam engine

By Aayat Ali
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The R.J. Corman Railroad Group has received a grant to house the “Old Smokey” steam engine in the Midway Historic District where citizens and visitors can see it and the Corman caboose already in the city, the Midway City Council heard Monday night.

CSX Railroad owns the track that runs through Midway, so a building to house the engine and caboose would have to be built off CSX property to avoid issues with CSX, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said.

The plan is to put the engine on the United Bank lot where the caboose already resides.  “We still have to get approval from the bank,” Vandegrift said.

Vandegrift said the engine itself doesn’t qualify for the historic-oriented grant because it was built in 1987, but a building in the Midway Historic District does qualify.

Vandegrift revealed that the state Transportation Cabinet has approved a grant of $193,000 to help build the facility, with a total cost of about $241,000, all covered by Corman. 

Corman barn in Lexington, before large steeples were added to it

Vandegrift said the building would be a smaller version of the one in Lexington that has housed Corman’s dinner train to Versailles, which recently stopped running.

The main issues are how the engine will be placed in the 125-foot-long building and where it will be built.

Vandegrift said the project is a great opportunity for Midway, the first town in Kentucky to be established by a railroad, which was the state’s first rail line. That was in 1833; the city was incorporated in 1846.

Coolmore America buying Waterford Farm, getting city water

The council approved running a water line outside the city limits to Waterford Farm, which is being bought by Ashford Stud, a division of Coolmore America, whose Versailles Road farm is home to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

The 720-acre farm is just outside the city limits on Weisenberger Mill Road, next to The Homeplace at Midway, a new senior-living community.

The main concern among council members was howa break in the water line might affect the water pressure at The HomePlace, for which fire suppression is critical.

First-term Council Member Libby Warfield asked if the line would be “detrimental to The HomePlace” and whether other farms outside the city limits get city water.

Vandegrift said there are such farms, and Water Superintendent Mark Roberts said a pressure problem is unlikely. He said The Homeplace’s lines would be cleaner because it would no longer be at the end of a line.  In case of a major break, Roberts and Vandegrift said, the farm line could be turned off at the new meter or the town’s water tank could be filled.

They said the city would require a backflow preventer on the line to keep solids from flowing into the city’s water in case of a break in the city system, which could siphon non-potable water from the farm.

Waterford Farm would be responsible for paying all expenses and meeting the city’s specifications, Roberts said.

In other business, the council declared the old fire truck and the fire department’s old van to be surplus, allowing them to be put up for bid. Vandegrift said the equipment is “just taking up space.”

The council also discussed the city’s plan to use $16,384 remaining from a community development block grant funds to build a new Habitat for Humanity home at 209 E. Stephens St. The topic was tabled after Council Member Dan Roller found an apparent discrepancy in the documentation.

Vandegrift wrapped the meeting up by thanking Deputy Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler for his help in preparing Midway for the snowstorm a few weeks ago. 

“They sent me updates days ahead,” he said, adding later, ”They even put on snow boots and walked through eight inches of snow though my yard to let me sign the emergency declaration.”

Council to consider open-burning law, trail resolution; public works panel to discuss line inspections

The agenda for the Midway City Council's regular meeting on Monday evening includes second reading and final passage of a new ordinance on open burning, and a resolution supporting creation and expansion of the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail by the Bluegrass Bike-Hike-Horseback-Water Trail Alliance. The ordinance and the resolution are in the council's meeting packet, which can be downloaded here.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. on first and third Mondays at City Hall, 101 E. Main St. Earlier Monday, at 2 p.m., the council's Public Works and Services Committee will meet at City Hall to discuss inspection of water and sewer lines. All council and committee meetings are open to the public.