EDA board lines up sales of four large Midway Station lots that are supposed to produce 70 new jobs

Lots 24, 25, 26 and 27 were prepared for sale by EDA at its meeting Tuesday. (For a larger image, click on it.)

Seventy more jobs would come to Midway Station under instruments approved Tuesday by the board of the Woodford County Economic Development Authority. 

The EDA board approved a letter of intent to sell two lots to CSI, which makes auto parts robotics for the auto industry, and a purchase contract for two with Dever Inc., which sells and rents golf-cart fleets.

"CSI is a hi-tech manufacturer for the automobile industry which will bring 40 high-paying jobs and will take Lots 24 and 25," Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said in an email to the City Council after the meeting. He said Dever will buy Lots 26 and 27 and "bring roughly 30 more jobs to town."

EDA Chair Michael Michalisin of Midway said the sales, after real-estate commissions, would generate $845,000, about $688,000 of which would go toward reducing the mortgage on the industrial and commercial park, with EDA keeping the remaining $157,000.

Vandegrift said the sales would reduce the debt on the property by about a third. "This is a big day for a number of reasons," he wrote. "This marks the beginning of a shift to a new phase, as these are the last remaining industrial lots in Midway Station not currently under contract."

Lot 30 is under option with Barnhill Chimney, and Lots 29 and 31 are in the process of being sold to Creech Inc., which collects muck from horse farms and ships it to mushroom farms in Tennessee.

Vandegrift noted that 130 acres of north of Midway Station is zoned industrial, "but this is a very nice turning point for the history of our industrial park. Both of these new companies are relocating from Lexington, and while they are not done deals just yet, they’re moving along very quickly and I am confident they will both get across the finish line. We could all use good news right now, and I’m very excited about both of these new companies."

Mayor names committee to study rising property valuations and how a tax-rebate program might work

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift has formed a committee to consult with tax experts and look into a tax-rebate program as property valuations are rising in the city, which usually leads to a rise in property taxes.

Logan Nance

The committee, at least for now, is City Council Member Logan Nance, Woodford County Fiscal Court Magistrate Liles Taylor of Midway, and Midway Business Association President Cortney Neikirk. They will study the rise in valuations and consult with tax experts, including local ones, then present their findings and offer recommendations for action to the council.

In his email to the council and the Messenger, Vandegrift didn’t explain what a tax rebate program might look like. “I’m being purposefully vague because I think the committee should hammer out the details,” he wrote.

Liles Taylor

Cortney Neikirk

He said valuations are rising due to lack of housing supply to meet demand, and the fact that the city's valuation hadn't been assessed for four years before its housing market "really took off."

He said county Property Valuation Administrator Judy Bobbitt told him she divides the county into four quadrants that are each reviewed every four years and assessed at fair market value, based mainly on comparable sales in the area.

Vandegrift quoted from Bobbitt’s email: “The market is definitely up right now. Most likely four years ago there was not an increase in sales, like this year.” She said homeowners should watch nearby sales to compare with their valuation, and “If they don't agree with our assessments please give us a call and we will be happy to review with them.”

The mayor said he had been told an "anecdotal story about a home whose valuation rose by $90,000. I doubt that's the norm, though."

With many already dealing with financial hardships amid the covid-19 pandemic, Vandegrift said he wants to avoid a rise in property taxes. He said the pandemic “has accelerated our plans to tackle the issue and help prevent folks from struggling to keep up with the taxation associated with higher values."

He said one possible solution would be to reduce property taxes, “but we’ve already cut them 30% and I don't want to hamstring ourselves or future leaders from being able to raise them if the revenue is needed." Midway's real-estate tax rate is now about the same as the rate in Versailles.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, via Zoom.

City won't be reimbursed for vouchers, so mayor says council should consider an even bigger grant plan

The vouchers must be spent at local businesses by Tuesday, June 30.

By Aaron Gershon and Al Cross
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

State officials won't reimburse the city the $40,000 in coronavirus relief money it sent residents to spend at local, non-franchised businesses, further opening the way for direct grants to the businesses, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift told the City Council and the news media Sunday.

"While this does not put us out any for the first round of vouchers, since it was funded by our economic-development surplus, it clearly could reshape your thinking on the second round," the mayor said in an email. (The city did not have to make a $40,000 interest payment this fiscal year on the Midway Station industrial and commercial park, thanks to lot sales there.)

"While I think this decision . . . does not account for the fact that a voucher program can help create new long-term clientele in our own city," Vandegrift wrote, "it does open the door wider for a small-business grant program, where we could conceivably use up to $80,000 to boost our local small businesses."

Vandegrift had suggested a grant program to reach more businesses, but the council informally voted 3-2 this month to use federal relief money to do two more rounds of vouchers. When retailers said they needed grants or many of them would go out of business, the mayor said he would propose grants in place of a third round and named a committee to work out details.

The committee (Council Members Stacy Thurman and John Holloway and City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy Foster) is scheduled to meet online at 5:15 p.m. Monday. Vandegrift said its plan and the options would be discussed at the July 6 council meeting.

To help the council decide, he pressed for an answer on reimbursement from the state Department for Local Government and the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who sponsored the $2 trillion Coronavirus Relief, Aid and Economic Security Act.

"Despite the fact that the language in the CARES Act and the spirit of the law clearly indicate such a program should be eligible," the mayor wrote, "DLG decided after a brief review that it was not eligible." Vandegrift, who earlier said he was 75 percent sure of reimbursement, said he has asked the DLG for an explanation and is waiting for it.

He said DLG's Jennifer Peters wrote, "We appreciate your innovative thinking and applaud your efforts; however, after discussion with the review group, this has been deemed ineligible for reimbursement." McConnell's staff said he favored reimbursement, the mayor wrote, but "They have informed me that the state is the ultimate arbiter of the federal money."

Vandegrift told the council, "I am sorry that I couldn’t present you with the most reliable information sooner than now, but we all know we have to act fast when people are struggling and businesses are threatened. I do hope that if the U.S. Congress decides to add $2 billion more to our staggering national debt, that they hammer out a few details better and create an appeals process that allows imagination to enter the fold."

The John Soper era ends at EDA and Midway Station; mayor calls the last six years 'an incredible turnaround'

Economic Development Authority Chair John Soper discussed
Midway Station at a Midway City Council meeting in October.

By Al Cross
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The long, down-and-up story of Midway Station entered another chapter Friday as John Soper stepped down as chair of the Woodford County Economic Development Authority and was succeeded by Michael Michalsin of Midway.

Soper, a former banker, has overseen the revitalization of EDA's industrial and commercial park and led the agency into development of an adjacent area, both of which have turned it from the city's main liability into its key source of revenue.

"When I became mayor, Midway Station was pretty much empty," and the city and the county owed more than $5 million on it, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift told the EDA board in its online meeting. "There was a lot of talk that Midway Station just needed to be sold at the courthouse steps," in foreclosure, which would have been "a disaster."

"Instead, through John's leadership" and the rest of the board, the park has reduced the debt to $2 million, gained seven clients and 10 projects with more than 500 jobs, including the city's largest employer (Lakeshore Learning Materials, which is adding a second building and 100 more jobs) and The Journey, a church that will have a day-care center, which is "a huge get for us," Vandegrift said.

The city's occupational tax on wages and net profits has allowed the city to cut property taxes over 30 percent and reduce sewer rates 25 percent, the mayor noted. And the sale of lots in the park saved the city a $40,000 interest payment this year.

"When John took over as chair, they couldn't pay a bill," Vandegrift said. "And now they're telling us we don't have to pay some of our bills ... because they're paying them for us, like the interest payment on Midway Station. It's an incredible turnaround."

The mayor said he was glad Michalsin is willing to be chair, and told Soper, "I think your legacy will be carried on."

Michalsin said he was willing to take the job on an interim basis, since the board's mission may evolve as it and the three governmental bodies decide how to move on from a paid chairman.

Arranging that role in late 2016 prompted a brief clash between Soper and Vandegrift at a City Council meeting, but the relationship between the pro-development Soper and Vandegrift, who has a large preservationist constituency, evolved into a partnership that worked.

Soper said Vandegrift played a key role in making Midway Station a success by agreeing to borrow $450,000 for a larger natural-gas line to serve the property. He called that "one of the greatest decisions that's ever been made in Woodford County" because it ensured that Lakeshore would come. "That deal was going to evaporate that day if you did not make that decision."

Soper said he is proudest that "We never lost a big deal." He took one last opportunity to promote the Edgewood development in Versailles, which is tied up in court, but after Vandegrift complimented him, Soper said, "We don't have to look like Georgetown; we don't have to look like Jessamine County, and I've never wanted us to do that."

Among the actions the board also took Friday were approval of a deed giving the city ownership of the lot where its only functioning water tower stands, and a deal in which the city will gain control of 38 acres along Interstate 64 to serve as greenspace, "which I think will help us control what the industrial park looks like," Vandegrift said.

The city would get the property in return for forgiving $500,000 to $750,000 of debt owed to it by the EDA, most of which is for the gas line but not all of which is considered collectible. Soper said the city would take over mowing the property next year.

Future development: Renewed interest in property at Midway Station could force the board and the city to decide to allow a larger development than would be allowed under the current property plat and street system.

Kyle Johnson of Lexington, one of the EDA's real-estate agents, said one prospect is looking for 30 to 40 acres for a 100-employee distribution facility, which would require "dealing with roads" and lots that are now zoned for retail business.

"We don't turn any deals down until they don't make sense," Johnson said. "Something big like that, we definitely would want to bring Grayson in." Other prospects include one that is interested in 10 acres but would add only 10 to 15 jobs, and a meatpacking operation that is "probably a longshot."

The Messenger asked the agents about Creech Services, which bales horse-stall muck and ships it out of state. The Lexington firm is looking for a location closer to horse farms but wants assurances that it would be allowed in Midway Station under an anti-composting restriction placed on the property after Bluegrass Stockyards tried to relocate there 13 years ago. Senior real-estate agent Matt Stone said Creech was trying to work out a deal with Keeneland.

Planning and Zoning Director Pattie Wilson reported that White Dog Trading, which is building bourbon warehouses and an office building in Midway Station, will have a permanent pool of water in its necessarily large drainage-detention basin. "It'going to be an amenity," she said. Soper said the firm's office building "will be a compliment to Midway Station," and its four warehouses will produce much revenue, mainly for schools, from taxes on the aging whiskey.

Soper also complimented Wilson and her staff, saying "You guys move at the speed of business . . . You treat everybody fairly who comes into that office . . .Your all's agenda is just good planning."

Mayor names committee to design grant program for businesses using covid-19 relief money, as they asked

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said Tuesday that he is setting up an ad hoc City Council committee to design a grant program for small businesses, using covid-19 relief funds, in place of a third round of vouchers that citizens can redeem at the businesses.

The committee will be Council Members Stacy Thurman and John Holloway and City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy Foster.

The move comes after Midway merchants expressed displeasure with last week’s 3-2 council vote to send residents two more rounds of $50 vouchers, at $40,000 per round, rather than making direct grants of up to $2,000 to businesses, as Vandegrift first suggested.

The mayor said restaurants, not retailers, were the main beneficiaries of the vouchers, and Tuesday he cited reports from local businesses of their redemptions to prove his point.

The Brown Barrel and Blind Harry's got the most vouchers. (Google photo)

The restaurants are getting far more than retail stores. The report shows that The Brown Barrel ($4,180), Goose and Gander ($2,910) Don Jockey ($2,410) were the only three businesses to get more than $1,000 in "Midway Bucks."

Eleven retail stores redeemed a total of $2,300, an average of $209; the highest was $430.

After the council voted for two more rounds of voucher instead of grants, 19 business people signed a letter warning that "without significant assistance or the lifting of pandemic restrictions . . . by the end of 2020, there will be more closed stores in downtown Midway than would be open."

In response, Vandegrift said he would ask the council to appropriate $40,000 for the grant program. Tuesday, he said the ad hoc committee would work on the exact details. "The committee will propose the details and the parameters as well as the potential paying scale of grants" hopefully for the council’s consideration July 6, he wrote.

"We've all agreed that time is of the essence for these businesses," he said. "We need to move as quickly as we can for them, regardless of what is decided."

The letter from the merchants noted that a grant program was clearly authorized by the relief bill but the voucher program was not. Vandegrift has said he thinks it will be approved.

In his latest statement, he said he is talking with the state Department for Local Government and the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who sponsored the bill, “to get as much guidance as possible” and would report to the council on at the July 6 meeting.

Merchants decry council's rejection of grant idea; mayor says he will ask for it instead of third round of vouchers

By Al Cross
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Midway merchants are upset over the City Council's decision last week to send residents two more rounds of $50 vouchers to spend at local businesses rather than Mayor Grayson Vandegrift's original idea of direct grants of up to $2,000 to any business, to spread pandemic relief to more of them.

Nineteen business people signed a letter warning that "without significant assistance or the lifting of pandemic restrictions . . . by the end of 2020, there will be more closed stores in downtown Midway than would be open."

The merchants said they are "disheartened and confused" by the council's 3-2 vote last week. It noted the possibility that the federal government might not reimburse the city for the vouchers, as it clearly would for direct grants, and Council Member Bruce Southworth's comment that the city could afford it because of its large surplus.

Each water customer has received $50 to spend by June 30.

"If such is the case, why couldn't both programs be implemented?" the letter asked.

Vandegrift told the Midway Messenger in an email that he will suggest the council do just that after the second round of vouchers, which he plans to issue in mid-July, and not do a third round.

"I appreciate their concerns and them bringing these concerns forward," the mayor wrote. "After the second round of vouchers, I am going to suggest to the council that we use the remaining $40,000 of aid money to go to grants for the businesses who do not meet a certain threshold, based on the data we are tracking. That is to say, the businesses who do not receive the lion’s share of the vouchers can then be eligible for direct assistance. This to me is the best compromise, as it shares these funds with both our citizens and our businesses who need it most."

Vandegrift had suggested direct grants, saying restaurants and the Corner Grocery were getting most of the "Midway Bucks" vouchers, which come in $10 denominations without the ability to have change returned from them. But Southworth and Council Member Kaye Nita Gallagher said the vouchers were popular, and Council Member Logan Nance he didn't think $2,000 would make a difference to a business at risk of closing.

The letter said, "This statement could not be any further from the actual truth of businesses in Midway. . . . This assistance would bridge the expense gap created by the government-forced closure" of retail stores that ran from late March to mid-May.

Nance replied, "Leading up to the City Council meeting, the only feedback I had received was how much citizens and business owners loved the Midway Bucks. I had heard nothing to the contrary or any opinion regarding a different type of stimulus. As a believer in the free market, I think any stimulus that allows taxpayers to have a say and direct where their money goes is more preferable than having a special committee to potentially pick and choose who qualifies for the grant."

He added, "Business owners are struggling and I am empathetic to that. I would fully support a follow up to the second round of Midway Bucks that supports businesses that haven't benefited from them as much as others, and am open to ideas of how we could do that. People are also struggling. The Midway Bucks are a great way to help people and business owners during this time."

The letter, written by Rob Mills of Damselfly Gallery, spoke to the struggle of businesses: "Two businesses have permanently closed, as well as one restaurant modifying its business plan drastically," he said. "I can speak with complete confidence that at least five additional businesses, including myself, are on the precipice of making permanent decisions regarding the future." Then he made the prediction of more businesses closed than open by the end of 2020.

Cortney Neikirk, president of the Midway Business Association, said Kennydid Gallery and Calamity Jane's have closed, though she was not sure the latter was related to covid-19.

Council Member Stacy Thurman, who said she had to leave the meeting before the vote due to a work obligation, wrote in an email, "I was torn during our discussion, but was ready to vote to at least explore the idea of small grants. The voucher program has been great, but I do worry about those shops that aren't seeing any Midway Bucks. If businesses start to close, it changes the character of our town. I want to give them a fighting chance if possible. I appreciate them coming forward with concerns and hope we can come up with a compromise."

Mayor makes Friday, June 19, a city holiday to honor fight for racial justice; says more vouchers in mid-July

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift is making Friday, June 19, a city holiday to honor those who have fought for racial justice, he announced in his regular update today.

Many African Americans observe June 19 as "Juneteenth," the day that a Union general who had just occupied Texas announced that in accordance with Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, "All slaves are free."

Vandegrift said, "We have to keep finding ways to remind each other of the racial inequities that still exist. Slavery ended, but oppression and systematic racism did not," even after passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. "We're getting better, but we are still so far away, and to honor all those who have struggled in the fight . . . we have to do more.

Vandegrift said the holiday means that city offices will be closed and city employees won't be working but will be paid. He told the Messenger that when June 19 falls on a weekend, the holiday will be the day closest to June 19.

"While this is not an earth-shattering step," he said in the update, "it's important that we remember that just one hundred fifty-five years ago, black Americans were literally held in chains for nothing more than the color of their skin."

Other topics: Vandegrift said the next round of Midway Bucks vouchers that can be spent at local, non-franchised businesses to help them get through the pandemic will probably go out in mid-July. "We need to make sure that the current vouchers get out of circulation, so to speak," he said. "You've got to spend them by June 30."

The mayor asked that residents consider going to a shop, perhaps one they have not visited before, to spend vouchers. "Some shops really haven't had a cut of the pie at all yet, and that's what we were hoping to avoid," he said. "We've had two shops close already during this pandemic. I'm afraid more will follow if we can't help them. Any bit helps, so please spread your money around as best you can."

Vandegrift began weekly updates on the pandemic March 18, and is shifting to every other week, but he said the coronavirus is "a reality that we live with and will be living with for some time."

"We definitely need to disabuse ourselves of the motions of having a normal summer, but that doesn't mean we have to have a bad summer," he said, noting that more relaxations of restrictions are planned for June 29.

He said social distancing and masks are the best way to keep the virus from spreading, and called for special attention to protecting people with underlying medical conditions and over 60. "There are even signs that people in their 40s need to be worried," he said.

Vandegrift opened his update by expressing condolences to the family of U.S. Rep Andy Barr, whose wife Carol died suddenly at their Lexington home Tuesday night. "It reminds us of how precious life truly is, and how important it is that we love one another."

State investigating complaints by Highview Drive residents of damage from herbicide spraying on farm

Photo from corner of Highview and Oak shows the effect of the herbicide on a field that was green. (Photo by Al Cross)

Rebecca Herpick of Highview Drive says her young
tree was damaged by the nearby spraying of paraquat.

Story and photos by Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Residents of the Highview Drive area in southeast Midway found herbicide sprayed on their properties last week. They’re upset, and the state agriculture department is investigating.

“Our garden backyard’s our sanctuary” in the covid-19 pandemic, said Rebecca Herpick of the 100 block of Highview. “That's how we're getting through this thing. It was, but it's my therapy, and just to see all your plants dying is just, like, devastating.”

The herbicide was sprayed on one or more farm fields next to the residential area. That was confirmed after Herpick had a conversation with farm owner Susan Coats, who told her that the spraying was done by Joe Greathouse of Midway, who is leasing the land. Herpick’s partner, Sean McDonald, said he believes wind blew it onto the residential property.

Herpick and her partner, Sean McDonald, say
this damage was caused by the spraying.

Greathouse and Coats could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.

McDonald said Coats told him that the herbicide was paraquat, which is commonly used to kill grass before planting crops.

McDonald and Herpick said they noticed spots on their lettuce on Wednesday, June 3. Two days later, when they went to grab lettuce for a weekend camping trip, the spotting looked worse, but they did not think of much of it, they said.

"It just had this ominous dead look to it and we're like ‘Wow’,” McDonald recalled. "We didn't think about a chemical or anything like that." 

The couple still packed the lettuce and ate it while on their trip. When they returned Sunday, however, they realized there was undoubtedly a problem.

“Everything had major damage," McDonald said. "I told Rebecca, man, the whole place looks like we've got a disease."

Eating food contaminated with paraquat “could poison people,” says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Herpick shows damage to her garden. (For
a larger version of any photo, click on it.)

Herpick and McDonald reported no symptoms, but Herpick said, "I just kept feeling so violated. We have a small dog . . . he could have died.” A study by Cornell University has found that paraquat is highly toxic to animals by all routes of exposure.

Angry, McDonald posted photos of their garden on the Midway Musings group on Facebook, and others reported similar experiences.

“The leaves in my trees and bushes are dying,” wrote Melissa Scheier, whose yard runs along Highview. “They all have the same spots.”

Warren Carter of Highview wrote, “I complained to Mr. Greathouse a few years ago about this same issue. I lost my garden in my back yard. When he sprays and the wind is coming from the southwest you can smell the chemical is your house. At least in mine. . . . Something must be done about this issue."

The problem isn't just on Highview Drive. Mary Williams Greene of Richardson Street commented on McDonald's social-media post Tuesday: "I noticed this evening that some of my plants on the side of the house nearest Highview had that same spotting."

A closeup of other damage. 

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift encouraged the residents to file complaints with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

 “We are going to keep an open line with the Department of Agriculture as it proceeds, and will do tests of water in Lee's Branch to see if any pesticides show up. We'll look especially for paraquat, unless an investigation leads us to look for any other pesticide as well.”

The Agriculture Department has received two complaints, and “We have two inspectors looking into it,” spokesman Sean Southard said. “Over the course of the next four to six weeks, we should wrap up the investigation which will determine if a violation has occurred.”

Under state law and regulation, the fine for applying herbicide not according to its label is $100.

In-person voting on primary day, June 23, will be at Falling Springs Center or by appointment at courthouse

Falling Springs Center is at 275 Beasley Rd. (Google map)

Woodford County voters who want to cast their ballots in person are being directed to a single countywide polling place at the county's Falling Springs Center in Versailles on primary election day, June 23, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. They can also make appointments to vote at the Woodford County Courthouse during those hours.

“We have had in-person absentee voting at the Courthouse since June 1,” County Clerk Sandy Jones said in a press release. “We want to give Woodford County every option to vote in the primary election and Falling Springs will serve as a centralized polling location for registered voters to cast their ballots on election day.”

Judge/Executive James Kay said in the release, “We want Woodford County to vote. We always have one of the highest voter turnouts in Kentucky, and we want to be umber one. We have never had this many options to vote in any election.”

Kentucky moved its primary election to June 23 under a bipartisan agreement due to the covid-19 pandemic, and expanded the medical excuse for absentee voting to include the risk of infection from the pandemic. All voters were mailed a postcard telling them how to apply for an absentee ballot.

“Voting absentee keeps people safe and saves tax dollars,” Kay said. “The more people that show up on election day, the more risks there are and the more poll workers, cleaning expenses, protective equipment, and county employees we need to run the election.”

Voters have until 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 15, to request an absentee ballot online at GoVoteKy.com or by calling the county clerk’s office at 873-8005. Absentee ballots can be mailed in or dropped off at the courthouse. A return envelope is provided and its postage is prepaid.

Woodford County voters can still vote early in person at the courthouse. There is also the option to drive-up, request a ballot and vote curbside at the courthouse.

“We are working overtime to allow voters every opportunity to vote,” Jones said. “We encourage voters not to wait until election day, because early voting is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the courthouse.”

Jones and Kay said they have worked with Falling Springs Executive Director Rich Pictor for weeks to prepare the polling location. Falling Springs will be closed for recreation and arts June 23 so it can perform the sole purpose of serving as a voting precinct. The center is at 275 Beasley Rd.

5 incumbents, 5 others run for City Council; 2 for school board; largest field of council candidates since 2012

The top six vote-getters on Nov. 3 will be elected.

Five incumbents are among 10 candidates for six seats on the Midway City Council, and there's a contested race for the Midway area's seat on the Woodford County Board of Education, following passage of Tuesday's filing deadline for nonpartisan offices.

Two more incumbents and two newcomers completed the council filings, and Ian Horn filed against Amanda Glass for the school-board seat being given up by longtime member Ambrose Wilson. The election is Nov. 3.

Council Members Kaye Nita Gallagher and Bruce Southworth filed for re-election Tuesday. Southworth said he had thought the current two-year term would be his last, but he said he had miscalculated the date of the 20-year review of the city's wastewater system and wanted to be on the council for that. He formerly operated the system.

Candidates who filed earlier were incumbents Sara Hicks, Logan Nance and Stacy Thurman, and Adam Bailey of Old Towne Walk.

Bailey, 33, is director of marketing and community outreach for a long-term and subacute care firm in Lexington. He said he and his wife Amy grew up in Woodford County (his father is EMS Director Freeman Bailey) and they have lived in Midway for five years. He said he is running to give back to a community that has a neighborly culture.

The signers of Bailey's nominating petition were his wife and Mayor Grayson Vandegrift and his wife Katie. The mayor said he signs such papers for anyone who asks "so long as I think they have their heart in the right place." He also signed for Southworth and Nance. (Magistrate Liles Taylor and his wife Robin also signed for Nance.)

Other newcomers filing for the council Tuesday were Mary C. Raglin and Andrew B. Nelle.

Raglin, 69, of the 400 block of South Gratz Street, was appointed to the Midway seat on the Woodford County Human Rights Commission in 2016. She would have to resign from the commission if elected, Vandegrift said. She would the the first African American on the council since Aaron Hamilton didn't seek re-election in 2014; he signed her nominating petition.

Raglin said she is retired from the 911 branch of the Lexington police department. She said she is running because she wants to be a voice and a positive influence for Midway, and was asked to run by two people. She declined to say who they were, but said one is a public official. Vandegrift, asked if it was him, said it was. "I’ve known Mary for quite some time and seen her dedication on the HRC," he said, "and felt she could add new perspectives."

Nelle, 36, said he delivers for Amazon and is a part-time chaplain assistant and staff sergeant in the Air National Guard. He said he was in the Air Force from 2008 to 2016, leaving as a senior airman. He said he moved from Lexington to Midway in early November 2019, just in time to meet the one-year residency requirement. Vandegrift said Nelle has watched every council meeting since.

Nelle said he is running because he is familiar with the workings of government and his parents inspired him to public service. "In service of others is the most noble of paths," he told the Messenger. Two of his four nominating-petition signers were merchants and fellow musicians Bill and Leslie Penn.

Only one incumbent, John Holloway, did not file for re-election. He was elected in 2018 and serves as the unpaid manager of Walter Bradley Park.

Two former incumbents, John McDaniel and Steve Simoff, filed for the council on Monday, June 1. They each served one term in 2017-18; McDaniel finished a close seventh in an eight-way race for six seats in 2018, after running third in a three-way race for the Democratic nomination for Midway-area magistrate on Woodford County Fiscal Court. Simoff didn't seek re-election that year.

The 10-candidate field is the largest since 2012, when 10 people ran for the council and Southworth and Hicks were first elected. They are now the longest-tenured members. Mayors serve four-year terms; Vandegrift was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.

School board: Amanda Glass filed for a four-year term in the District 1 school-board seat on May 21. She and her husband Ken own and operate Railroad Drug and Old Time Soda Fountain on East Main Street. The Vandegrifts and Thurman signed her petition.

Ian Horn filed for the seat at 2:26 p.m. Tuesday, County Clerk Sandy Jones said. He could not be reached for comment, but his LinkedIn page says he is an information systems engineer for the state Division of Geographic Information.

Council passes resolution saying it will confront racial issues in city; deadline to file for council is 4 p.m. Tues.

By Aaron Gershon and Al Cross
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Midway City Council committed itself Monday to confronting racial issues and “taking an equitable approach to all decision-making” amid the nationwide protests of police brutality and racial injustice.

The all-white council unanimously passed a resolution saying the city will examine “the racial biases embedded in our city” and “the racial impacts of city polices,” encourage people of color to participate in government and try to “improve the quality of life for all residents of Midway by asking these questions: Who benefits? Who is burdened? Who is missing? How do we know?”

The resolution’s author, Council Member Stacy Thurman, said “I felt it was good to acknowledge what’s going on in the world right now and know that Midway can always do better . . . and maybe lead to a list of action items.”

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said he had already begun the process by reaching out to African American pastors. Noting the annual observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King’s birthday, he said he had long asked “how we have a discussion beyond a day in January every year … It’s almost like the country doesn’t have the appetite to tackle this problem,” which he said began when the Constitution included compromises on slavery.

“The founding fathers were well aware of the hypocrisy,” he said. “They created a great country with a terrible flaw to it.” He said solving it “starts with the heart, and it starts in the home, and it branches out from there.”

Council Member John Holloway, who first asked how the resolution would be implemented, shared a personal story to illustrate the racial divide that needs bridging.

He said one of his neighbors, an African American, reportedly said “one of the most awful things I ever heard” before the last election: that he was not going to vote “because voting’s for white people.”

“I was just crushed when I heard that,” Holloway said. “I’m not sure the relationship between the races in Midway is as rosy as what white people think it is.” Vandegrift agreed. “It’s not enough to say you’re doing better than other cities. That’s a pretty low bar.”

Council Member Logan Nance said the resolution was “a great first step,” but “We need to make sure people in the community that are minorities feel they do have a voice and that they can be part of this. . . . We can use this resolution as a reminder for ourselves when doing projects to make sure everyone has an equal voice.”

Nance said he has encouraged African Americans to run for office. The last black city council member was Aaron Hamilton, who did not seek re-election in 2014.

Holloway expanded the electoral encouragement to Latinos, saying he would vote for candidates of color and would even pay the $50 filing fee for any in Midway wanting to run for council. The deadline to file is 4 p.m. Tuesday, at the county clerk’s office in Versailles.

(Holloway and Council Members Kaye Nita Gallagher and Bruce Southworth had not filed for re-election as of 4 p.m. Monday, but Southworth and Gallagher said Tuesday morning that they plan to file; the other three members had. Other filers were Adam Bailey of Old Towne Walk and former council members John McDaniel and Steve Simoff.)

The resolution says “The City of Midway seeks to unify efforts aimed at reducing disparities and commit to intentionally and collectively advancing equity,” and “is committed to hearing individuals who meaningfully engage in raising awareness of disparities and in actively engaging in suggesting and supporting methods by which they may be resolved.”

Council Member Sara Hicks alluded to the shortage of affordable housing in Midway, saying “If we have the intention not to be a gentrified community, we can make policies as a city that will provide those things.”

In other action, the council approved an encroachment permit for an eight-foot-wide concrete driveway behind 230 South Gratz St., the former Midway Woman’s Club building, leading to Stephens Street; and reappointed Michael Michalsin to the Woodford County Economic Development Authority board for a three-year term. 

“He understands all sides of our goals of growth, to grow reasonably sustainably, slowly but to also fit into what makes us who we are,” Vandegrift said.

Michalsin said, “I am keenly aware that I am the only that I am the only Midway appointee to that board. I really do try to think about that and represent what’s important to us.” The EDA controls the Midway Station commercial and industrial development.

EDA confident about partner, talks transition from Soper, hires agent and starts transfer of greenspace to city

This map was published in March 2019, when the city annexed the property that EDA had an option to buy.

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Woodford County Economic Development Authority board spent much of its Friday meeting discussing the best way to replace longtime chairman and executive John Soper.

The board also began the process of turning over the green space around the edge of Midway Station, awarded a contract for marketing the industrial and commercial park, and discussed relations with the adjoining landowner who has been its main collaborator recently.

Adjoining property: The EDA had an option to buy 104 acres next to Midway Station from Michael Freeny, but Soper said Freeny doesn't want to renew the option until he has a better idea of its worth.

Soper noted that the property hadn't been annexed and zoned industrial when EDA obtained the option in 2017, and that Freeny has since sold part of it to Lakeshore Learning Materials for its second building. He said Freeny wants to know the cost of building a road through a narrow strip that connects the two sections of the property and would provide access to South Elkhorn Creek.

"I expect that road will cost every bit as much as what he paid for that lot or more," because it will have to be built to city specifications so the city can accept it for maintenance, Soper said. "As far as I know Mr. Freeny is still willing to honor his commitment for access though that property to the creek," which the city wants for recreational purposes. He also said that Freeny knows EDA and the city are his conduits to state economic-development officials.

Midway board member Michael Michalsin said he expects "good dialogue" with Freeny because "He's very easy to work with. . . . I'm happy to stay in close touch to him as is useful for the board."

Transition: Soper, who's been on the board for about 20 years and has been its paid chairman for the last few, will be stepping down after his term ends June 30, leaving the EDA in need of a game plan for leadership.

The board agreed that the "most desirable option" would be to hire a full-time director, but concluded from research that option would likely be beyond its budget. Soper gets $60,000 a year, funded pro-rata by Midway, Versailles and Woodford County.

The board is considering four other options, according to a document distributed by Treasurer Maria Bohanan after the meeting:

● Part-time independent contractor (hired by the three governments, with duties directed by them): This option would “more than likely” be less than the cost of Soper’s contract but raises concerns about the contractor not being readily available as a full-time employee would, and that there could be potential for conflicts of interest.

● Full-time independent contractor (hired by the governments, with duties directed by them): This option offers more consistency in the EDA's messaging and relationship-building, and would establish a “go-to person for all stakeholders in the community, including planning and zoning,” but may be too expensive and could lead to a difficult recruitment and evaluation process. The document also questions whether a full-time person is needed, since a real-estate agent has been hired, but a big “variable” is possible development of the Edgewood property at Versailles, which is tied up in court.

● Third-party entity (hire a firm to handle EDA's needs): This option offers “administrative staff and a strong Rolodex,” would probably cost less than Soper’s contract, and could attract competitive bids from firms “likely eager for business in this environment,” the document says.

● Creating a position as a public employee: This option could make it easier to provide direction but “is problematic due to which entity and whom the individual would answer to,”and would require extra taxpayer funding for retirement benefits and health insurance.

In another element of the transition, the board discussed Soper’s suggestion that the treasurer receive some compensation, which could require a change in the EDA by-laws, which say members will serve without compensation except expense reimbursements but say the “secretary-treasurer,” a position that is now split, can be paid.

The board directed Bohanan to include in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year $4,500 for compensation of the treasurer and/or secretary and a Dropbox subscription to facilitate electronic communication. Soper said he would ask attorney Bill Moore about the need for a by-laws change.

Midway Station agent: The board approved SVN/Stone Commercial Real Estate Advisors to serve as its agent for Midway Station, part of the transition from Soper’s impending departure.

The board and Matt Stone of SVN agreed that selling land in Midway Station is not just about creating jobs but maintaining Midway's character.

Soper said, "The EDA is about jobs and about representing what the taxpayers want, and it's not just about selling land." Stone responded that SVN is not about "pushing a deal through to get some sales done."

Stone said SVN will boost Midway Station’s web presence and advertising, with aerial photos. He said that unlike many commercial firms, it splits commissions with agents for buyers, meaning “We’re employing the entire brokerage community, locally and nationally.”

Asked by Soper how Midway Station’s $65,000-an-acre price compares with other ready-to-use industrial property in the region, he said “It works very well” because the range is $35,000 to $85,000, “but in Lexington you’re dealing with prices that are six figures.” He said he has seen transactions of $75,000 to $85,000 in Georgetown, which some buyers prefer because it is on Interstate 75. “I think we compare well to Georgetown.”

Land transactions: The board authorized Moore to prepare a deed to the City of Midway for the Midway Station tract on which the city’s functioning water tower stands, and to prepare an option for the city to take ownership the 38 acres of greenspace that surround Midway Station, in return for the city agreeing to forgive $500,000 to $750,000 of debt owed by the EDA, not all of which is considered collectible. Both moves have been anticipated for many months.

The EDA also owes the county money, and Magistrate Mary Ann Gill asked if there would be “any effort to compensate Woodford County.” Soper said, “If there was money there, I think that we could,” but “If we can get out of this with paying off the debt … and putting the finishing cap of surface on those roads … I cannot conceive that there’s any cheese left in this trap.”

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift reminded Gill that the county did not participate in the $450,000 financing of a larger natural-gas line for Midway Station, which constitutes most of the debt and “really improved the park’s chance of selling land.”

Soper said the legal instrument from EDA to the city needs to be an option, not a deed, because releasing the mortgage on that part of the property without any direct monetary compensation might be a problem for the banks that hold the mortgages. He said that would “give Midway control of the land without going to the bank and asking them to release it … until after land sale,” which he said would be “A better time to release without any consideration.”

Soper said the city’s “intent to make some or all of it a park” will enhance the value of Midway Station. Vandegrift said it won’t be a park as such, “but a greenspace. Midway is such a picturesque city, we want our industrial park to be as picturesque as an industrial park can be.”

First covid-19 case confirmed in Midway; it's a reminder for caution, especially this weekend, mayor says

By Al Cross and Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Midway has its first confirmed case of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said in a video that county Public Health Director Cassie Prather informed him of the diagnosis this afternoon, the patient is doing "pretty well" at home, and their recent contacts have been contacted for purposes of self-quarantine. He said he had no other information about the patient.

Coronavirus cases per 100,000

Midway's case was one of six new cases reported in Woodford County. The county Health Department reports the new cases are 58-year-old woman, a 74-year old man, a 79-year old man, a 29-year old woman, a 59-year old man and a 13-year-old girl. All are listed as stable and recovering at home.

The county's infection rate of 92 per 100,000 population is moderate compared to other counties, as shown on the map at left. It had gone several days without any new cases, and the remaining 19 have all recovered. UPDATE, May 23: Another case was reported in the county, for a total of 26.

Vandegrift said the virus has surely been in Midway already, and the presence of a confirmed case shouldn't cause addition concern, just more vigilance about precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. He called for residents to keep washing their hands, covering their coughs and practicing good hygiene, so there is no "spike" in Midway.

"In some ways [the town's first case] might be a very important reminder of how careful we need to be," he said in the video, which runs about two and a half minutes.

Mayor says 'rude subcontractors' broke gate locks, allowed animals to escape and painted willy-nilly

Image from MetroNet video shows temporary paint used to mark existing utility lines. Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said employees of a MetroNet subcontractor painted the lines on personal items in yards, broke gate locks and let animals escape.

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift says he has warned MetroNet, which is installing high-speed fiber optic cable to every home in Midway, that he will not tolerate what he called "rude subcontractors."

Vandegrift said residents reported that workers locating existing utility lines Tuesday broke padlocks off a few residents’ gates; left several gates open, allowing animals to escape; and spray-painted line markers over personal items in yards rather than leaving a small gap in the line.

"While these were not employees of MetroNet, but rather other utility companies, I still hold MetroNet responsible, as it is their project," Vandegrift told the Messenger. "If they want to follow up with the utility companies that didn't act in good faith, so be it, but we can't allow the blame game."

This is not the first time he has heard MetroNet has been called out for rude subcontractors, the mayor said.

"I've heard many rumblings of ham-handed subcontract work by residents in Lexington and Versailles," he said. "I want to avoid those stories here. I believe so many of these issues could be solved by communication, and I was disappointed I wasn't contacted by MetroNet before the locators began on Tuesday, as I could have warned residents to unlock padlocks and beware of locators needing to access their property.

Vandegrift said he had a productive conversation Thursday morning with MetroNet's executive regional vice president, government-affairs liaison and its project manager to help clear the air.

"I believe they understand that we are a city that prides itself in keeping our residents in the loop at all times,” he said, “and that we'll demand that employees and subcontractors be respectful and communicate with residents as well."

The mayor said he made it clear that during the current trying times, there's no room for disrespecting the properties of Midway residents.

"During a pandemic, when people are more stressed, and in some cases already feel overburdened by government right now, it is important that folks feel that people entering their property are respectful, as little intrusive as possible, and that bury utility lines with respect to people's gardens and personal property as best as possible while properly using the utility easements," he said.

He added later, "They were very receptive to the sensitive nature of the current circumstances, and I believe they will make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again."

The mayor acknowledged that there is little he can do but object. He said he could use his emergency powers under the pandemic to "exclude all nonessential, unauthorized, disruptive, or uncooperative personnel from the scene of the emergency," but that would only delay installation, "and I certainly don’t even want to have to go there. I did want to get their attention, and luckily I did."

Vandegrift said he remains confident that the project will end up being a boon to the town and bring much-needed improvement for telecommunication services in Midway, as early as August.

"I believe firmly that MetroNet will bring a much needed new competitor to our city for internet, phone, and television,” he said. "Their use of fiber optic line is a true 21st century technology that will be here for a long time."

Vandegrift said MetroNet is “very committed to restoration” and has promised these steps for better service going forward:

●  Use the “path that is least intrusive” within the easement, and two feet from existing utilities, to avoid disrupting service.

●  Do anything they can to go around trees, gardens, or other personal items.

●  Residents can call two different numbers with any concern. MetroNet will open a “ticket” with each call to track progress and fix any issues.

●  When a trench is dug to bury cable, they will seed and straw. If they don’t do it to your satisfaction, you can call 859-785-1107 or 1-877-386-3876 and they will do it to your liking.

●  If a planting of any kind is disrupted, they will replace it to your specification.

●  If a garden is in the easement and they can’t go around it, they will bore underneath, to avoid tearing it up.

●  Subcontractors will be briefed and reminded on a regular basis that in general, everyone is more stressed now than usual, so they need to be mindful of that.

●  A local man, Doug Haney, will be in charge of local engineers and overseeing the subcontractors, and will be someone who can assist you with any issues.

●  As any issues arise call either 859-785-1107 or 1-877-386-3876; both are customer service lines, and MetroNet is committed to making residents satisfied once this more intrusive phase is over.

Vandegrift said he urges anyone to contact him directly if any issues occur.

MetroNet has a short video describing the installation process at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca30L1RAMNI&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop. 

Mayor thanks citizens, asks them to report businesses that don't follow required precautions in reopening

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

In his bi-weekly pandemic update Wednesday, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift praised Midway's response to the coronavirus and called for a proactive and careful approach as the town's economy reopens.

"You have done an outstanding job," Vandegrift said to open his update. "I'm so proud of Midway citizens."

He also praised residents for supporting local businesses amid the pandemic. "The way you've supported the restaurants to keep them through this is truly remarkable." However, he said one unnamed store "looks to be closing."

Then the mayor warned that Midway, which has not had a confirmed case of the coronavirus, might begin to see cases appear as more visitors come to town with reopening of retail stores Wednesday and restaurants (with greater limitations) Friday.

"The truth is, this is the phase where we may begin to see more cases," he said. "There's going to be more spread when people are out and about."

Vandegrift assured residents that they can keep the virus in check.

"We can control it," he said. "The virus can be somewhat controlled with the practices of social distancing, wearing a mask, which is one of the ultimate signs of sacrificing."

The mayor urged residents to let him know if a restaurant or shop violates social distancing guidelines such as not wearing a mask or keeping people six feet apart.

He also had a message regarding gatherings of 10 or fewer people, which will be allowed starting Friday, the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend.

"Practice social distancing the best you can,” he said. ”We're not going to be looking over your fence to see how many people are at your house or if they’re spaced out, but I think it's smart to keep the number of covid cases as close to zero as we can."

Mayors and judge-executive talk about the 'new normal,' say it needs to include the wearing of masks

Screenshot of, from top left, County Judge-Executive James Kay, Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott, Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift and Emily Downey, executive director of county Tourism Commission and Chamber of Commerce

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

While excited to reopen their economies, Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift, Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott and Woodford County Judge-Executive James Kay all urged caution and mask wearing during a virtual town hall Wednesday.

The event on Facebook consisted exclusively of questions provided by Woodford County Tourism Executive Director Emily Downey and residents, and answers from the two mayors and judge-executive.

Are masks required to be worn? The trio highly recommended that people wear masks while at local businesses. Kay said the county is a "free society," but businesses have the right to deny service to anyone not wearing a mask.

Vandegrift said that the more people wear masks, the more positive pressure will be put on those choosing not to. He encouraged business owners and customers to "gently and kindly" remind or request people not wearing masks to put one on.

Kay noted that those with medical conditions such as asthma would not be required to wear masks.

Traugott said he plans to wear a mask when out, in hopes of setting an example for others to follow suit.

Where can people obtain masks? Kay said nearly every business that plans to require the wearing of masks would provide customers with them.

He and Vandegrift added that residents should contact the Woodford County Jail, whose inmates are still making masks, as they did for the Midway mask project.

Vandegrift said Midway still has around 200 masks available, many in children’s sizes.

What will the 'new normal' look like? Even as businesses reopen, things will look a lot different than before, as Woodford County tries to thwart the spread of the coronavirus.

Kay called the early stages of reopening of shops and restaurants a "soft reopening" and told residents to expect paper menus, plastic utensils and other disposable products, and nearly everyone in masks, at restaurants.

Vandegrift said business "will and look different." He said the use of masks, deep cleaning and limits on capacity will be crucial to keeping the spread slowed, and no businesses want to be known for spreading the virus.

"It's going to look a little different, it's going to feel a little different, but it's going to be all right," he said.

Traugott said the use of restrooms will be much different, since they will be cleaned much more frequently, but customers should not fear going out to eat at restaurants. He urged people to stay patient and polite, because businesses and customers will need time to adjust to the new normal.

When will government offices reopen? The county clerk’s office remains closed to in-person business but will still be available over the phone and via email.

The courthouse will remain closed to in-person services until June 1 and then will reopen by appointment only. Everyone inside the building will be required to wear a mask.

Versailles City Hall will not reopen for the time being but may soon offer in-person meetings by appointment. Midway's will not be open for at least a month to see if the reopening of restaurants and shops lead to a surge of covid-19 cases, but appointments can be made for meetings. Dropbox services and phone services will remain available.

When can yard sales return? Both mayors said they were unsure if there's a set a date for return of yard sales in Gov. Andy Beshear's guidelines. (There are not.) Kay encourages using online sale for the time being to prevent any potential spread of the virus.

Are retail spaces still one customer per family? Woodford County will still limit shoppers to one customer per household inside stores, with exceptions for parents with young children or the disabled.

With 1,400 volunteer-made masks handed out, Midway offers remaining 300 to rest of county

The masks are packaged with instructions.

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

In early April, Midway kicked off a volunteer-driven project to make enough cloth masks to give one to anyone in the city free of charge.

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said that if the city still had more than 100 masks available May 18, it would offer them to any resident of Woodford County.

Vandegrift said Friday that 1,400 masks have been distributed to Midway residents and 300 will become available to any Woodford County residents Monday.

Vandegrift said Woodford County Jail inmates joined Midway volunteers in mask production so residents of the rest of the county would have a chance to obtain them.

 “I want to thank Midway Makers Market and owner Amy Bowman, not to mention over 60 volunteers who have helped cut and press the fabric, sew the masks and prepare them with instructions for your use.”

Amy Bowman

Bowman, who came up with the idea, told the Messenger, “None of this would have been possible without the hard work of over 50 volunteers who worked in teams to wash fabric, cut, sew, press, sanitize, package and distribute the masks.”

Vandegrift said the city will continue to provide masks to any business in Midway that needs them as businesses begin to reopen.

The mayor emphasized the importance of wearing masks, which is recommended in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s reopening guidelines. “We expect that stores and shops will follow the guidelines,” he said. “After all, they don’t want their business brand to be hurt as being known as a virus farm, and they certainly don’t want to be forced to close again.”

Masks to help limit spread of virus will be available Monday; not a first or best line of defense, mayor says

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift posted this photograph of a packaged mask and its instruction sheet.

Masks made by dozens of Midway volunteers to help thwart the coronavirus will be available at City Hall next week through telephone appointments, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift announced today.

Vandegrift said residents wanting masks should City Hall at 859-846-4413 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, say how many masks of each size, adult's or child's, that they want. "We’re asking one per person, please," Vandegrift said. "We will then arrange for folks to bring their vehicle to the parking spot parallel to the front door and Sonya or Cindy will toss them in the back window to keep social distancing. One can also be placed through the night slot to a person."

For those who are unable to come to City Hall, the mayor said, "Arrangements can be made to have volunteers deliver, but there may be a bit of a time lag in that process. . . . Masks are still being made and finished as we go, so if at any time we have run out of masks, we’ll be letting people know that this would only be temporary and we will make sure everyone who wants one gets one."

The mask packets include an instruction sheet, which Vandegrift said should be read carefully. "A mask is not our first or best line of defense, just an added layer of protection," he said.

Vandegrift said the project has taken off so well that that Amy Bowman at Midway Makers Market, who came to him with the idea, is getting orders from health-care providers. "It’s so heartening to see Midway and its people continue to lead," he said. "Many thanks to Amy and Ann at Midway Makers Market, Diamond Graphics, and all of our wonderful volunteers. We will get through this together."

City Council adds downtown water station to budget, discusses alternatives for large sidewalk project

The Midway City Council added a downtown water station to the proposed city budget and discussed how to handle a much bigger project, new sidewalks, at its first workshop on Mayor Grayson Vandegrift's proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Meeting by online videoconference, the council approved a motion by Bruce Southworth and seconded by Stacy Thurman to put into the budget $5,000 for a water station on East Main Street, as suggested and priced by Logan Nance. He said it would have a standard fountain and spouts for water bottles and pet bowls. The city has a public water fountain only when City Hall is open.

In his initial budget proposal, Vandegrift proposed spending $50,000 to build a sidewalk on Stephens Street to Sexton Way, which leads to The Homeplace at Midway. Last week, he suggested waiting a year to find grants to expand the project to Brand Street, while assessing the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today he said the pandemic's impact would be uncertain, but noted that the city was already expecting to exceed its occupational-tax forecast by $175,000. He said the city's largest employer, Lakeshore Learning Materials, gave 100 employees two weeks off with pay, and the second-largest, Midway University, is still working (though the campus and farm are closed to the public).

The latest price for the Stephens Street sidewalk is $75,000. Vandegrift said it would have to be built on the north side of the street, because drainage is on the south side, requiring a crossing, and would also require a "fairly long" footbridge over a low spot. Nance said a crossing with lights and signs would help slow speeders, long a problem on Stephens.

Black dots mark original idea for large sidewalk project.
(Google map, adapted) 

Vandegrift said, "We're probably not going to be able to find a grant," for the Stephens sidewalk, and that it would be more economical to have a later, larger project that would include Brand Street, reaching Dudley Street (where another footbridge would be needed) and tying into Walter Bradley Park trails leading to Northside Elementary School. That would qualify the project, or at least part of it, for a Safe Walk to Schools grant, he said.

Thurman said she saw the logic in a combined project, but "We have to really let people know the big picture if we’re gonna put it off a year." Nance said waiting would save $25,000; Vandegrift agreed, noting that the grant would cover 80 percent of eligible costs.

"Part of me thinks we should build the one on Stephens and look for grants later on." Vandegrift said.

John Holloway questioned whether there is room for a sidewalk in the railroad underpass on Brand, and suggested that the grant application could say the route to the school is via Gratz Street, which already has sidewalks. Vandegrift said the engineer he consulted wasn't certain the underpass is wide enough, and the Gratz route could be an option.

"I’d like to see that sidewalk as quickly as possible," Vandegrift said, but "I was worried we might not get the best bang for our buck . . . Going to Gratz might be way smarter. . . . We can do either one."

The mayor agreed with Kaye Nita Gallagher's suggestion that if the project needs extra money, some could be taken from the $25,000 snow-removal budget, most of which has not been used, except to stockpile salt.

The other major point of discussion was the proposed budget of $30,000 for attorney services, up from $21,000 in the current year. Questioned by Nance, Vandegrift said new city attorney Sharon Gold is one of the best lawyers in the state and is charging the city $274 an hour instead of her regular fee, which is more than $300 an hour.

Vandegrift said part of Gold's work is done by lower-priced associates, and the city has less work for its attorney than before because he has six years of mayoral experience and new City Clerk-Treasurer Cindy Foster can write ordinances.

In other business, the council approved a resolution commending Gov. Andy Beshear for his response to the coronavirus pandemic, citing "great leadership" that has been "nonpartisan," a "swift response and a "calm demeanor" in his daily updates, and actions that "protected the most vulnerable" and encouraged citizens "to maintain good social distance and personal hygiene." Vandegrift said the resolution was suggested by an unnamed citizen and written by Nance.