City hangs model of vulture to keep others from roosting

The City of Midway is trying another tactic to reduce the number of vultures that roost in the town, especially in evergreen groves in the winter. Meet Fred the vulture.

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift with Fred

Fred, a model of a red-headed turkey vulture, was hung upside down in a tall tree northwest of the intersection of Winter and Bruen streets early Monday afternoon, in the hope that the apparent carcass will dissuade vultures who, ironically, subsist on carcasses of other animals.

Marcus Stewart of Art's Electric, from Frankfort, used copper wire to hang Fred in the yard of a homeowner who wanted to remain nameless but said her child is unable to play in the yard due to vulture droppings.

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said the city bought Fred on the advice of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for $120 and would pay Art's $50 for hanging him. He said Fred amounts to a relatively inexpensive experiment that could be be repeated elsewhere if it proves successful.

To enlarge either photo, click on it.

'Sparks in the Park' starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday; mayor urges thoughtful use of fireworks July 3-5

Midway's annual "Sparks in the Park" event will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, in Walter Bradley Park.

The city will provide a dinner of barbecue, buns, coleslaw and baked beans for 250 people, and activities for children, including a bounce house.

As he reminded the City Council of the event at its Monday meeting, Vandegrift was asked if he was ready to start getting telephone calls at 11:01 p.m., the first minute after the end of the period for legal use of fireworks on July 3, 4 and 5.

He turned the jest into a serious point, urging citizens to "be a little more mindful" about where and when they use fireworks.

"We have veterans in Midway with PTSD," post-traumatic stress disorder, he said. "I just wish more people would think about that." 

Committee to consider first draft of noise-and-nuisance ordinance, cemetery ideas Monday morning

Noise and cemetery issues are on the agenda of the Cemetery, City Property and Ordinance/Policy Committee of the Midway City Council, which will meet Monday, May 13, from 9 to 10 a.m. at City Hall.

The committee will consider first draft of a noise ordinance, an idea it has discussed at its last two meetings. The draft will also cover nuisances other than excessive noise, according to the meeting notice from City Hall.

Cemetery topics will be ideas for a chapel, a bench for senior citizens and the Memorial Day service. All city council and committee meetings are open to the public.

Council discusses removal of snow and vultures, changes in October marathon route

By Morgan Rhodes
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

Midway’s extended troubles with snow removal and roosting vultures were main topics discussed at Monday’s City Council meeting. While the roosting issue was somewhat left in the air, the issue of snow removal may finally be put to rest.

Mayor Tom Bozarth swore
Charlann Wombles onto the council
as Council Member Dan Roller watched. 

Other business at the meeting included a discussion about route changes for the third annual Iron Horse Half Marathon, and the swearing-in of a new member.

The council approved an agreement with Woodford County to take care of road treatment and snow removal for the remainder of this winter pending one change: a clause requiring either party to give 30 days’ written notice if it wishes to terminate the agreement.

At the last meeting, where the first draft of the agreement was reviewed, council members agreed that such a clause was needed, and that the first three paragraphs of the agreement should be deleted.

These paragraphs detailed Midway’s new fourth-class city status and said “to be fair and consistent,” the city and county had agreed that the “service cannot be provided to Midway at no cost.” They remained in the agreement signed by County Judge-Executive John Coyle, and Council Member Sharon Turner said she was “not happy” about it.

Midway Magistrate Larry Craig and Magistrate Bruce Gill said the fiscal court unanimously told County Attorney Alan George to add the 30-day clause. As for the opening paragraphs, “You have to pick your battles” in contract negotiations, Craig said, adding that he saw no point in pressing the matter “and the feelings that go along with that” – a reference to city officials’ unhappiness with the way county officials handled the policy change. 

Mayor Tom Bozarth asked City Attorney Phil Moloney to contact George with the request to add the 30-day language requiring both parties to give 30 days notice of termination. He said the city is still getting informal bids for snow removal service, both citywide and on narrow streets the county says it cannot handle. “We’ll have to see which is best for the City of Midway and our citizens,” he said.

For a copy of the agreement and a list of streets that the county will handle, click here.

In light of the issue, Turner suggested that the city and the Fiscal Court send each other advance copies of their meeting agendas. “Communication seems to be an issue,” she said, alluding to the county’s late notice of its policy change. Gill endorsed the idea.

With the agreement about snow removal in process, the council moved on to discuss how to eliminate the vulture problem in Midway.

Increasing numbers of vultures are roosting at three sites, leaving a distinct odor, grounds covered in droppings and health concerns. (Photo by Morgan Rhodes)

One location is behind Midway Christian Church, where Rev. Heather McColl has already applied for a federal permit to kill and remove the vultures. McColl sent in a permit application on Friday, she said. It takes six to eight weeks for permits to be processed and approved.

McColl told the council she enlisted the help of Assistant Versailles Police Chief Fugate to help kill the vultures. If the church receives a permit, “The city will receive notice of when the birds will be killed in emails, posters, et cetera,” she said, to ensure the citizens are aware that firearms will be in use at the church and prevent any fear or distress.

A permit is required to kill vultures because they are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Adam Probst, the University of Kentucky cooperative extension agent for agriculture in Woodford County, told the council. Both the native turkey vulture and invasive black vulture are in Midway, Probst said. Read more about the vultures here.

Probst suggested that property owners where the birds are roosting also apply for a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Without the permit, “You can harass them all you want, you just can’t shoot them,” Probst said.

Probst said he believes applying for the permit to kill and remove the vultures is the best course of action for Midway because other defenses have failed. Last year, the Versailles Police Department fired blanks to scare the vultures away, and Council Member Dan Roller created an effigy to hang outside the church.

Each property owner must apply for an individual permit because the city cannot kill or remove vultures from private property, Probst said.

Probst said Midway is an ideal roosting site for vultures because of abandoned buildings and covered pine trees. In Midway, scare tactics would only make the vultures move from one location to another down the road, he said.

Because Midway ideal for vultures, Probst said, there is no permanent fix for the problem.

Other business: marathon, members, ordinances

              

For the third year, the council issued an event permit for the Iron Horse Half Marathon, a 13-mile foot race through Midway, on Oct. 14 this year.

Chuck Griffis with John’s Run/Walk Shop of Lexington, a sponsor of the race, attended the meeting to address concerns about the disruption the event causes. It begins at 8 on a Sunday morning, complicating travel for residents heading to or leaving churches.

To reduce traffic obstruction in town and allow downtown to open back up earlier, the course will be run in a direction opposite from last year, and the start and finish line will be at the corner of Brand and Cross streets, instead of finishing at the corner of Main and Winter, a much busier intersection, Griffis said. For a PDF (2.13 MB) of last year's course, click here.

Proceeds from the race have gone to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. However, Griffis said he is looking for a more localized cause. Last year, the event raised roughly $10,000, Griffis said. He said he expects 1,300 participants this year, 250 more than last year.

Turner asked where participants will park. Bozarth said they will park at Midway College and Walter Bradley Park. Griffis said the college will be on fall break, possibly making more spaces available.

Before the meeting began, Charlann Wombles, a former council member, was sworn back into office, replacing Becky Moore, who had resigned with 10½ months left in her term. The council appointed her at a special meeting last week.

The council passed a revised ordinance on the administration, licensing and payment of fees for selling and serving alcohol. The second reading and final passage of a new parking ordinance was put on hold until next meeting pending corrections.

After a brief discussion, the council agreed to include the option of combined recycling and garbage pickup as it requests proposals for the service in the coming year.

Near the end of the meeting, Bozarth asked council members to think of one item they would like to see in the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. And he told several candidates for council seats in the November election, who were in the audience, that he would hold a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday to familiarize them with city issues. “We’ll try to do this on a regular basis to try to help you all move forward with your candidacy this fall,” he said.

The council’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

               

As vulture flock grows, Midwegians worry about health and safety; council to discuss options

Vultures preparing to roost soar above Midway Christian Church.

Story and photos by Morgan Rhodes

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

On a walk down East Bruen Street in Midway, someone might witness a scene reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.” The trees behind Midway Christian Church are filled with roosting vultures, seemingly waiting for a nice carcass to scavenge.

These vultures aren’t just behind the church, where they have returned in greater numbers than in 2010. Over the last couple of months, vultures have spread to two other locations in Midway: on Brand Street and the corner of Bruen and Turner Street.

UPDATE, Feb. 22: The church has applied for a federal permit, its pastor said after Monday night's council meeting.

The Midway City Council will discuss the vultures at its meeting Monday night. Council Member Sharon Turner is worried about the dangers the birds may pose. “People are mainly concerned about the health issues,” Turner said in an email, “and some are also concerned about their small pets that are outside.”

Experts downplay the health issues from the birds’ smelly droppings, but do say the vultures are the type that can kill prey, not just scavenge carrion.
 

Adam Probst, the University of Kentucky’s cooperative extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Woodford County, said in an email that Kentucky is home to two types of vultures: the turkey vulture and the invasive, black headed vulture.

“The native turkey vulture has been a part of the natural ecology of Kentucky for many years,” Probst wrote. “However, the black headed vulture is expanding its territory north from Mexico and the Gulf Shore states. It is a more aggressive bird that may actually kill its prey rather than exclusively feeding on dead/decaying carcasses like the turkey vulture has done.”

While Probst said there are no immediate hazards to humans, black vultures have a more aggressive nature, making pets and children vulnerable. He said Midway has options to deal with the problem and hopes to find a solution with the council.

Probst said there is no particular reason vultures are roosting in Midway. Abandoned buildings are an attraction for nesting sites, he said. “Once they become a little more acclimated to people, they may move out into other areas around town that may have a little more traffic such as parks or near churches that don’t have daily activity.”

The pastor of Midway Christian Church, the Rev. Heather McColl, said she first noticed the vultures around Halloween in 2010. “As time passed,” she said, “they became more prolific. … This year, it seems the numbers have grown. I would guess there are 50 or more on a given night.”

McColl said the church’s concerns are for the health of the community: “Midway Christian Church is trying to be proactive.” Last year, the Versailles Police Department was called on to fire blanks in the area to scare off the vultures, but the tactic didn’t work.

Dan Roller, a city council member and member of the church, also made an effigy to scare the vultures away, McColl said. This tactic also failed.

Tire on church playground shows bird droppings.

While no one has been harmed, the vultures have caused damage to the community playground behind the church. “People used to come by and use the playground,” McColl said. “Because of the droppings, it is a health hazard.”

The smell and droppings of vultures in roosting areas are unpleasant, but pose no real harmful effects, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says on its website. Because vultures have a unique digestive system, all bacteria are destroyed before being emitted back into the environment. According to the site, “Most view the vulture as one of nature’s most efficient, natural recyclers.” For more, click here.

Even so, McColl said the droppings have rendered the playground unusable by the community.

In an effort to solve the problem, McColl contacted Keith Stucker, district supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. McColl said Stucker confirmed the situation at the church  is no longer a temporary and minor problem, so it can be addressed with more than harassment of the birds.

Stucker suggested that McColl apply for a permit from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to give the church permission to kill the vultures, the only surefire way to be rid of them, McColl said.

A permit is required to kill black vultures because they are a federally protected species. Probst said the first line of defense is scare tactics, but since the situation has progressed to a point where the birds would simply move to another location in Midway, “I’ll be discussing at the city council meeting some options that the city can take including additional scare tactics, and the permit process for taking and removing these birds.”

Since scare tactics have already been used, Probst said he believes taking and removing the birds is the best option.  Stucker suggested to McColl that killing the birds after receiving an approved permit is the best option at this point. Because the vultures have spread and multiplied, Stucker told McColl, removal is the only available option to get rid of the problem this season. Also, according to the Alabama website, roosting vultures habitually return to previous sites, making it very likely that the birds would keep roosting in Midway.

McColl said the church will take its cue from the city council. If the city applies for a permit, she said, the church will be a part of that.

“As long as ideal roosting sites are around Midway,” Probst said, “this may need to be addressed again in the future, but it may be several years before it gets to the point that we are at today. The good news is that the city does have some options in dealing with this problem and that hopefully we can create a solution soon.”