The Water, Sewer and Garbage Committee of the Midway City Council will meet Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall to discuss pool adjustments, services outside the city limits and parking issues near Corner Grocery. All city council and committee meetings are open to the public.
Header
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Blighted properties dominate Mon. council agenda; zoning amendment would apply to microbreweries
The Midway City Council will consider ordinances on nuisances and blighted property, and hear about some individual cases of condemned properties, at its regular meeting Monday evening, July 16.
The draft agenda calls for first reading of Ordinances 2012-006, on elimination of blighted and deteriorated properties, and 2012-007, on enforcement of the Nuisance Code and nuisance-notice appeals. The council reviewed drafts of both ordinances last month.
The substantive business of the meeting is scheduled to begin with an appearance by Lewis and Pam Yount, who were issued a compliance order last month on six properties and are to submit a plan of action at the meeting, according to City Council Member Dan Roller, chairman of the council's Property Maintenance Task Force.
The Younts told the council last month that they plan to tear down three of the houses and/or sell the lots at 218 N. Winter St., 305 Smith St. (next to Second Christian Church) and a burned house at 306 S. Brand St, next to the old Tococo plant, Roller said in a mass email on June 24. "The three other properties condemned were at 113 Martin St., 209 E. Stephens St. and 309 E. Stephens St. They further stated they must arrange financing and other details."
Roller added, "The council also received a condemnation letter dated June 5, 2012, on 327 Second St., owned by Lion Crest LLC. The owner stated by letter the house would be torn down starting by Aug. 1 and completed by Sept. 1, 2012."
The new business on the council agenda for Monday night includes amendments to the "principal uses" sections of five zoning district regulations sections in the Woodford County Zoning Ordinance: 713.2, neighborhood business; 714.2, central business district; 716.2, highway business district; 717.2, highway interchange; and 718.2, light industrial, all in Article VII of the ordinance. These are to conform to an amendment approved by the county planning commission last month, to make specifications for microbreweries. There has been discussion of the possibility of a microbrewery in Millville, and/or in or near Midway.
UPDATE, Sept. 2: Greg Kocher of the Lexington Herald-Leader reports that a brewery is being established in Millville.
The draft agenda calls for first reading of Ordinances 2012-006, on elimination of blighted and deteriorated properties, and 2012-007, on enforcement of the Nuisance Code and nuisance-notice appeals. The council reviewed drafts of both ordinances last month.
The substantive business of the meeting is scheduled to begin with an appearance by Lewis and Pam Yount, who were issued a compliance order last month on six properties and are to submit a plan of action at the meeting, according to City Council Member Dan Roller, chairman of the council's Property Maintenance Task Force.
 |
| This house at 313 Second St. is not among properties under the compliance order to but is near one that is (at 327 Second) and was among those reviewed by the Property Maintenance Task Force. (Photo by Morgan Rhodes) |
Roller added, "The council also received a condemnation letter dated June 5, 2012, on 327 Second St., owned by Lion Crest LLC. The owner stated by letter the house would be torn down starting by Aug. 1 and completed by Sept. 1, 2012."
The new business on the council agenda for Monday night includes amendments to the "principal uses" sections of five zoning district regulations sections in the Woodford County Zoning Ordinance: 713.2, neighborhood business; 714.2, central business district; 716.2, highway business district; 717.2, highway interchange; and 718.2, light industrial, all in Article VII of the ordinance. These are to conform to an amendment approved by the county planning commission last month, to make specifications for microbreweries. There has been discussion of the possibility of a microbrewery in Millville, and/or in or near Midway.
UPDATE, Sept. 2: Greg Kocher of the Lexington Herald-Leader reports that a brewery is being established in Millville.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Council bans open burning, use of fireworks
At a special meeting at noon today the Midway City Council passed am emergency ordinance banning open fires and use of fireworks because of dry conditions caused by the drought. The ordinance will remain in effect until repealed.
The ban means there will ne no sparks at the annual Sparks in the Park event at Walter Bradley Park tonight. However, city council candidates are scheduled to speak, so there could be some figurative sparks.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Founder of project to help exploited and abused women and girls in India to speak at Christian Church
Midway residents have an opportunity to learn about the Anchal Project, which helps abused and exploited women and girls in India, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Midway Christian Church.
Colleen Clines, a co-founder of the project, will speak and offer for sale quilts made by women and girls she has helped. Coffee and dessert will be provided.
The quilts will be part of a trunk show at Damselfly Gallery Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 1. Marcie Christensen will be on hand to talk about the project.
Colleen Clines, a co-founder of the project, will speak and offer for sale quilts made by women and girls she has helped. Coffee and dessert will be provided.
The quilts will be part of a trunk show at Damselfly Gallery Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 1. Marcie Christensen will be on hand to talk about the project.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Francisco's Farm arts festival is this weekend
Musical entertainment begins at noon Saturday with the Seth Murphy Band, a folk group. Bluegrass, jazz and flamenco fusion groups will also perform. For the entertainment schedule of entertainment and activities for children, click here.
The festival is named for Col. John Francisco, who owned the farm where Midway was founded with the building of Kentucky's first railroad in the mid-1830s. Francisco's Farm is being produced this year by the Lexington Art League, Equus Run and Midway Renaissance. For those groups' contact information, and inquiries about the festival, click here. Sponsors of the event include Midway College, where it was held until last year, and the Midway Business Association. To help with the festival, click here.
Admission to the festival is $10 per vehicle. For more information, go to www.franciscosfarm.org.
UPDATE: Here is the Lexington Herald-Leader's story on the festival.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Woodford Tomorrow adopts vision statement to guide and enhance the county's development
By Al Cross and Alex Ruf
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications
Woodford Tomorrow, a community improvement organization focusing on economic development and natural resource preservation, adopted its vision statement tonight after almost two years of discussion and work.
"I just think it's amazing," Midway City Council Member Joy Arnold, the group's chair, said after the unanimous vote. "There have been times when we didn't think we would get anyplace."
Woodford Tomorrow is the latest in series of citizen groups that have tried to guide development and preserve the county's rural landscape in the last 40 years, starting with Woodford Save the Land and the Woodford Coalition. Some who were in those groups are in Woodford Tomorrow, but say it is less a preservation group than a strategic development group.
"We just want Woodford County to succeed," said lawyer Hank Graddy of Midway, a leading preservationist in a county that is one of Kentucky's richest, but lacks assets and amenities that other successful communities have -- such as a hotel, an arts council, a full-time economic developer and a brand to identify the county and attract tourists and investors. All are goals in the vision statement and the summary of the group's analysis of the county's economic clusters.
"We're not saying we're against -- those are things we're for," farmer Hampton "Hoppy" Henton said at last night's meeting. "The whole thing is that we're positive. It's not same old over-my-dead-body" attitude.
The group's statement of purpose says, among other things, "We are pro-business (small, medium and large)" and "We are for eliminating Woodford County's reputation for being 'lawsuit-happy'."
The group has identified many short-term and long-term goals for the county, one that has already surfaced: a "Uniquely Woodford" brand for "destination industries, the arts, value-added agricultural products and all that is uniquely Woodford in the community."
Graddy compared it to the Kentucky Proud brand, which is given to qualified foods and products grown or made in Kentucky. The brand is used to encourage Kentuckians to support Kentucky agri-businesses. The Uniquely Woodford brand will be put on items that are made, grown, or manufactured in Woodford County.
UPDATE, July 6: For a story by Greg Kocher of the Lexington Herald-Leader about the brand, click here.
Woodford Tomorrow plans to schedule events promoting the brand. The first event was to be the “Uniquely Woodford Local Food Fair,” April 29 at Equus Run Vineyard, but it had to be rescheduled due to too many conflicts, such as the Kentucky Derby, but likely will be held in the fall, said Woodford Tomorrow member Elizabeth “Libby” Jones. The food fair will feature free food and live music and allow people to meet growers and chefs.
“The simple act of restaurants informing the providers of other products they now purchase outside the county or area will assist the providers in knowing what others lines of products they may be able to sell locally.” said Dan Roller, a Midway City Council member who is supportive of Woodford Tomorrow.
The Woodford Tomorrow vision statement puts strong emphasis on cooperation and collaboration, and the first lines in the purpose statement say "We are a research and fact-finding organization, open to any citizen, organization or company. We strive to provide support and input to city and county officials to help in their decision-making process regarding the betterment of our county."
The group's next steps include taking the vision statement to other groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Woodford County Economic Development Authority, to get their comments and support, and then present it to the county Fiscal Court and the city councils of Versailles and Midway. A formal, uniform presentation will be developed by Lori Garkovich, a University of Kentucky rural sociologist who lives in the county and has been active in development issues.
Some members said other groups might not accept the vision statement as a whole, but could list their exceptions. Garkovich said one of the effort's great potentials is that individuals or groups will get excited about individual parts of the plan and make them happen.
The first three decades of battles over development and preservation in Woodford County are chronicled in "Land (and how it gets that way)," a documentary film by Walter Brock, which premiered in 2004. It will next air on KET-KY (the Kentucky channel) at 9 p.m. June 22.
Woodford Tomorrow meets every second Monday in Versailles at the Community Trust Bank at 6 p.m.
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications
Woodford Tomorrow, a community improvement organization focusing on economic development and natural resource preservation, adopted its vision statement tonight after almost two years of discussion and work.
"I just think it's amazing," Midway City Council Member Joy Arnold, the group's chair, said after the unanimous vote. "There have been times when we didn't think we would get anyplace."
Woodford Tomorrow is the latest in series of citizen groups that have tried to guide development and preserve the county's rural landscape in the last 40 years, starting with Woodford Save the Land and the Woodford Coalition. Some who were in those groups are in Woodford Tomorrow, but say it is less a preservation group than a strategic development group.
 |
| Woodford Tomorrow members at last month's meeting |
"We're not saying we're against -- those are things we're for," farmer Hampton "Hoppy" Henton said at last night's meeting. "The whole thing is that we're positive. It's not same old over-my-dead-body" attitude.
The group's statement of purpose says, among other things, "We are pro-business (small, medium and large)" and "We are for eliminating Woodford County's reputation for being 'lawsuit-happy'."
The group has identified many short-term and long-term goals for the county, one that has already surfaced: a "Uniquely Woodford" brand for "destination industries, the arts, value-added agricultural products and all that is uniquely Woodford in the community."
Graddy compared it to the Kentucky Proud brand, which is given to qualified foods and products grown or made in Kentucky. The brand is used to encourage Kentuckians to support Kentucky agri-businesses. The Uniquely Woodford brand will be put on items that are made, grown, or manufactured in Woodford County.
UPDATE, July 6: For a story by Greg Kocher of the Lexington Herald-Leader about the brand, click here.
Woodford Tomorrow plans to schedule events promoting the brand. The first event was to be the “Uniquely Woodford Local Food Fair,” April 29 at Equus Run Vineyard, but it had to be rescheduled due to too many conflicts, such as the Kentucky Derby, but likely will be held in the fall, said Woodford Tomorrow member Elizabeth “Libby” Jones. The food fair will feature free food and live music and allow people to meet growers and chefs.
“The simple act of restaurants informing the providers of other products they now purchase outside the county or area will assist the providers in knowing what others lines of products they may be able to sell locally.” said Dan Roller, a Midway City Council member who is supportive of Woodford Tomorrow.
The Woodford Tomorrow vision statement puts strong emphasis on cooperation and collaboration, and the first lines in the purpose statement say "We are a research and fact-finding organization, open to any citizen, organization or company. We strive to provide support and input to city and county officials to help in their decision-making process regarding the betterment of our county."
The group's next steps include taking the vision statement to other groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Woodford County Economic Development Authority, to get their comments and support, and then present it to the county Fiscal Court and the city councils of Versailles and Midway. A formal, uniform presentation will be developed by Lori Garkovich, a University of Kentucky rural sociologist who lives in the county and has been active in development issues.
Some members said other groups might not accept the vision statement as a whole, but could list their exceptions. Garkovich said one of the effort's great potentials is that individuals or groups will get excited about individual parts of the plan and make them happen.
The first three decades of battles over development and preservation in Woodford County are chronicled in "Land (and how it gets that way)," a documentary film by Walter Brock, which premiered in 2004. It will next air on KET-KY (the Kentucky channel) at 9 p.m. June 22.
Woodford Tomorrow meets every second Monday in Versailles at the Community Trust Bank at 6 p.m.
John McDaniel's eclectic and interesting life is wrapped all around Midway
By Martha Groppo
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications
Few people are more thorough experts on Midway than John William McDaniel III.
“He has stories that few have heard or known about,” said his good friend, Midway Mayor Tom Bozarth. “He has a lot of knowledge about Midway and our history.”
But few in Midway are thorough experts on John McDaniel. Even he struggles to remember everything he has done. It would take much time to know everything about McDaniel, a lifelong Midway resident who has been a police officer, sold carpets, jailed in a jail he helped run, and ridden his horse down Main Street.
“He dabbles in a little bit of everything,” Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Turner said. “He knows everybody.”
“I just seem to be in the most weird places at the strangest times,” McDaniel said, coming to the same conclusion others seem to reach after hearing a few of his stories.
McDaniel started his eclectic life in the Woodford Memorial Hospital on June 11, 1949, 63 years ago today.
For the full story, click here.
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications
Few people are more thorough experts on Midway than John William McDaniel III.
“He has stories that few have heard or known about,” said his good friend, Midway Mayor Tom Bozarth. “He has a lot of knowledge about Midway and our history.”
 |
| McDaniel with a big pencil, all about his writing. Mayor Tom Bozarth (in background), his friend, calls him "Scoop." |
“He dabbles in a little bit of everything,” Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Turner said. “He knows everybody.”
“I just seem to be in the most weird places at the strangest times,” McDaniel said, coming to the same conclusion others seem to reach after hearing a few of his stories.
McDaniel started his eclectic life in the Woodford Memorial Hospital on June 11, 1949, 63 years ago today.
For the full story, click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)