Council set to pass budget, anti-discrimination law

At its meeting Monday evening, the Midway City Council is scheduled to pass a city budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 and become the eighth Kentucky town with an ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or familial situation.

The council gave the ordinance first reading May 18 and disposed of several questions raised by Council Member Libby Warfield, the only member to voice skepticism about it at public meetings. The ordinance was strongly favored by the 25 people who spoke at a May 7 public hearing.

Newly elected Mayor Grayson Vandegrift, who had served one term on the council, proposed the ordinance after the countywide Human Rights Commission asked him, Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott and County Judge-Executive John Coyle to pass one. The Versailles City Council and the Woodford County Fiscal Court have not acted on the issue.

Other Kentucky cities with such "fairness ordinances," as advocates call them, are Louisville, Lexington, Covington, Frankfort, Danville, Morehead and the Perry County village of Vicco.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The Midway Messenger will be unable to cover the meeting, but the Lexington Herald-Leader and The Woodford Sun are expected to be there. For a PDF (size: 16 mb) of the council packet, with the ordinance, the budget and a proposal to lease the old sewage-treatment plant for fish farming, click here.

Five locals make dean's list at Midway College

Five students from Midway were among those named to the dean's list at Midway College for the spring semester. In order to be named to the list, a student must have been classified as full time and earned a 3.6 grade-point average for the semester.

The Midway students on the list are Amanda Elkin, Nicole Inman, Raven Rape, Mariah Smock and Andrea Vanvoorhis, according to a news release from the college.

College gives Pikeville banker Jean Hale its Pinkerton Vision Award for being leader, women's role model

Jean Hale (College photo)

Jean Hale, president and CEO of Pikeville-based Community Trust Bancorp, received the L.L. Pinkerton Vision Award for her accomplishments as a leader and role model for women in Kentucky at Midway College's second annual Spotlight Awards on May 28.

Named after the founder of the Kentucky Female Orphan School, which would later become Midway College, the award honors an individual or group who has had a direct impact on improving the lives of women, served as an outstanding role model for women and young ladies, or who has displayed great leadership, innovative thinking and influence in her chosen career.

"A coal miner's daughter, Ms. Hale rose from humble roots in Pikeville and now runs a $3.8 billion company with more than 1,000 employees and is recognized as one of the top 25 most powerful women in banking nationwide," a college news release said.

As previously announced, the Spotlight Awards also included presentation of the Legacy Award to Elizabeth Lloyd "Libby" Jones for her years of service to the college.

4 from Midway among 302 Midway College graduates

Four women from Midway were among 302 graduates awrded degrees from Midway College at its May 9 commencement ceremonies.

Colleen Christy Jonsson received a Bachelor of Arts in Equine Studies (Equine Management); Denise Michelle Sandfoss received a B.A. in Business Administration (Accounting); Mariah Elizabeth Smock received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and Krysta Allison Wright-Blincoe received an associate of science in Nursing.

For a complete list of degrees and the college's news release, click here. The college will become Midway University on July 1.

Court of Appeals upholds ruling that Bluegrass Pipleline can't gain easements through condemnation

The Kentucky Court of Appeals today upheld a circuit judge's ruling that the proposed Bluegrass Pipeline through greater Midway does not have the power of eminent domain to obtain easements for the line that would carry natural-gas liquids.

A three-judge panel of the appeals court unanimously affirmed the decision by Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd. Bluegrass Pipeline, which said a year ago that the project had been suspended, has 30 days to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

"Williams spokesman Tom Droege did not immediately return a request for comment late Friday afternoon, nor did representatives of the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association, which has been following the case," The Courier-Journal reported.

The lawsuit was filed by Kentuckians United to Restrict Eminent Domain. Its attorney, Tom FitzGerald, said in an email, "I could not be more proud of the KURE board and members, and Penny Greathouse in particular, for standing up for the rights of Kentuckians."

For a PDF of the Court of Appeals decision, click here.

Council gives first reading to anti-discrimination ordinance, hears and answers questions from Warfield

Midway City Council Member Libby Warfield posed a battery of questions Monday night as the council gave first reading to the proposed "fairness ordinance" that would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and familial status.

Warfield's questions were answered mainly by Mayor Grayson Vandegrift annd city attorney Phil Moloney, but Council Members Dan Roller, Kaye Nita Gallagher and Sarah Hicks also replied, explaining and supporting language Moloney had drafted.

When Warfield asked how an employer would know a prospective employee's sexual orientation, Gallagher said a person who believed they had been a victim of discrimination would have the burden of proving that had happened.

The ordinance would apply to employers with more than seven employees. Warfield argued that it would apply to very few employers in Midway, but Hicks said that could change, and Roller cited the new McDonald's restaurant as an example.

Warfield said the city could be on the hook for legal expenses of a case that was appealed in court. Vandegrift said several people in Midway had volunteered to contribute to a restricted fund that could be used for such expenses.

The council does not hold votes (and usually does not hold discussions) on first readings. Vandegrift said after the meeting that the second reading would be held at the council's next meeting, Monday, June 1. If the ordinance passes, Midway would be the eighth Kentucky city with such a law.

The council also held first reading of the proposed city budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. It calls for expenses of about $1,114,264 and keeping the city's unbudgeted surplus at $600,000.

Significant changes include fire department maintenance and equipment, $41,685, up from $17,000, reflecting planned purchase of protective clothing; street equipment, $14,800, up from $10,989, reflecting the planned purchase of a truck; cemetery equipment, $14,800, up from $5,000, reflecting planned purchase of a truck; cemetery maintenance, $50,000, up from $35,000, reflecting sidewalk and roof repairs; City Hall maintenance, $20,000, up from $15,000, reflecting the planned purchase of a new entry door; and donations, $3,500, down from $10,000 in the current year. However, there are line items for new recipients of donations: $1,500 for the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce and $1,000 for Midway College (which becomes Midway University on July 1).

The council gave approval on second reading to the ordinance that slightly increases garbage rates, to $12 a month from $11.95 for residential pickup and $25.50 a month for businesses.

Vandegrift announced that the annual Memorial Day service at the cemetery will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25.

For a PDF of the ordinances, the budget and the rest of the council's meeting packet, click here.

Anti-discrimination ordinance set for first reading Mon.

The "fairness ordinance" to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and familal status is scheduled to get its first reading before the Midway City Council at its next meeting, set for 5:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall. For a PDF of the proposed ordinance, click here.