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Monday, April 12, 2010
Council budget and streets committees meet Tue.
Two City Council committees have scheduled meetings for Tuesday, April 13. The Finance and City Property Committee will meet at noon at City Hall "to discuss Revenue Streams, review budget draft and review any updates on City Property," the meeting notice says. The Streets and Lights Committee will meet at 5:30 in the upstairs Coimmunity Room to discuss sidewalk issues, which had budget implications last year.
Council seeks zoning amendment for temporary RV campground at Midway Station
The Midway City Council voted at a special meeting this morning to ask the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning and Zoning Commission to amend the county zoning ordinance to allow a temporary recreational-vehicle campground at Midway Station during the World Equestrian Games in late September and early October. The amendment is still being drafted, but Mayor Tom Bozarth said in calling for the motion that it would "allow RVs in all zones at Midway Station."
The vote was 4-0. Council members Aaron Hamilton and Sandra Cooke were absent. (From left: Bozarth and council members Charlann Wombles, Diana Queen, Sharon Turner and Doris Leigh) The motion also asked that a public hearing be held in Midway on April 29. At a recent council meeting, City Attorney Phil Moloney said the ordinance might need to be amended to allow the campground, which was originally set to be located on Margaux Farm in Scott County, just across South Elkhorn Creek (the county line) from the Midway area. Scott County zoning officials blocked the proposal. The star on the MapQuest image below marks the bridge across the creek to Margaux Farm. Midway Station is the area with streets at the northeast corner of the Interstate 64 interchange. It is a failed industrial park that a prospective developer hopes to turn into a commercial and residential development.
Margaux Farm has sued to overturn the Scott County zoning officials' action or be compensated for loss of the campground, but Bozarth said that there is no chance the campground can still be located there. He said Nashville RV dealer Raymond Brody will hire contractors to dispose of sewage from the RVs and has been in discussions with health officials about permits and procedures.
Margaux Farm has sued to overturn the Scott County zoning officials' action or be compensated for loss of the campground, but Bozarth said that there is no chance the campground can still be located there. He said Nashville RV dealer Raymond Brody will hire contractors to dispose of sewage from the RVs and has been in discussions with health officials about permits and procedures.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Bill to reclassify Midway as fourth-class city left hanging as legislature adjourns until April 14
Legislation to reclassify Midway as a fourth-class city, giving it more power to manage its own affairs, was among the bills left hanging as the General Assembly adjourned yesterday for almost two weeks. Legislators will return April 14 to reconsider any bills vetoed by Gov. Steve Beshear and pass other legislation that would not be subject to an override of a veto, including an Executive Branch budget.
Among the bills in the balance is House Bill 325, which would move Midway from the fifth to the fourth class of cities. It would do likewise for Guthrie in Todd County and Junction City in Boyle County. It would also move from sixth to fifth class, Sadieville in Scott County and Wurtland in Greenup County. None of the cities appear to meet the minimum population of 3,000 that Section 156 of the state Constitution set for a fourth-class city, but Section 156A repealed that section and gave the General Assembly power to reclassify based on other criteria. The Midway City Council requested the classification. For an item on that, click here.
The bill originally dealt only with new restrictions for the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties, but the Senate amended it to include the classification measures. After considering and then dropping a floor amendment related to the original bill, the Senate passed the bill yesterday, 33-3. The House adjourned without taking up the revised bill, but could pass it on April 14 or 15. However, Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, above, said House leaders have a high threshold for suspending the rules to send Beshear more bills in the veto-override session, and the sponsor of HB 325 is unhappy with what the Senate did to it.
Among the bills in the balance is House Bill 325, which would move Midway from the fifth to the fourth class of cities. It would do likewise for Guthrie in Todd County and Junction City in Boyle County. It would also move from sixth to fifth class, Sadieville in Scott County and Wurtland in Greenup County. None of the cities appear to meet the minimum population of 3,000 that Section 156 of the state Constitution set for a fourth-class city, but Section 156A repealed that section and gave the General Assembly power to reclassify based on other criteria. The Midway City Council requested the classification. For an item on that, click here.
The bill originally dealt only with new restrictions for the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties, but the Senate amended it to include the classification measures. After considering and then dropping a floor amendment related to the original bill, the Senate passed the bill yesterday, 33-3. The House adjourned without taking up the revised bill, but could pass it on April 14 or 15. However, Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, above, said House leaders have a high threshold for suspending the rules to send Beshear more bills in the veto-override session, and the sponsor of HB 325 is unhappy with what the Senate did to it.
Monday, March 22, 2010
City and Renaissance Committee meets Tue.
The City and Renaissance Committee of the Midway City Council will meet Tuesday, March 23, at 6 p.m. in the Community Room upstairs at City Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to work on the continued partnership with the City of Midway and Midway Renaissance. The agenda appears to be review of the state auditor's recommendations for public and nonprofit boards.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wombles named to state records commission
Monday, March 8, 2010
Council to hear proposal for temporary RV camp at Midway Station during World Equestrian Games
The Midway City Council will hear a presentation Monday night from Nashville recreational-vehicle dealer Raymond Brody to set up a temporary RV campground at Midway Station before and during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park Sept. 25 through Oct. 10.
Brody first made the proposal to the Woodford County Economic Development Authority, which owns the property, and Lexington developer Dennis Anderson, who has a contract to buy the failed industrial park and make it a commercial and residential development. It has a facility for disposal of domestic wastewater into the Midway sewer system. Stephen Burnett wrote in The Woodford Sun (not available online) that Brody offered EDA $30,000 for use of the property and that Mayor Tom Bozarth said the city "will likely charge some usage fees."
Brody told EDA that he would want access to the property in mid-August, to be ready for early arrivals. He indicated that he will run the campground under a contract with the World Equestrian Games and will provide his own 24-hour security and transporation for visitors to downtown Midway. Paraphrasing Brody, the Sun reported that he wanted to set up the campground in Scott County, where the Horse Park is located, but "ran into some obstacles," which he did not explain. He said Midway Station could accommodate 500 to 750 RVs. Click here for a map of the proposed sites.
The city council meets at 5:30 p.m. March 15 at City Hall. The agenda also includes bids for the old sewer plant, delayed from the last meeting, and creation of a Sister Cities program in which Midway would pair with one or more towns in another nation for cultural and other exchanges.
Brody first made the proposal to the Woodford County Economic Development Authority, which owns the property, and Lexington developer Dennis Anderson, who has a contract to buy the failed industrial park and make it a commercial and residential development. It has a facility for disposal of domestic wastewater into the Midway sewer system. Stephen Burnett wrote in The Woodford Sun (not available online) that Brody offered EDA $30,000 for use of the property and that Mayor Tom Bozarth said the city "will likely charge some usage fees."
Brody told EDA that he would want access to the property in mid-August, to be ready for early arrivals. He indicated that he will run the campground under a contract with the World Equestrian Games and will provide his own 24-hour security and transporation for visitors to downtown Midway. Paraphrasing Brody, the Sun reported that he wanted to set up the campground in Scott County, where the Horse Park is located, but "ran into some obstacles," which he did not explain. He said Midway Station could accommodate 500 to 750 RVs. Click here for a map of the proposed sites.
The city council meets at 5:30 p.m. March 15 at City Hall. The agenda also includes bids for the old sewer plant, delayed from the last meeting, and creation of a Sister Cities program in which Midway would pair with one or more towns in another nation for cultural and other exchanges.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
City council wants legislature to raise Midway's official classification by one notch
Midway will ask the Kentucky General Assembly to raise the city's classification by one level, a move that would give it more authority and put it on a par with the county seat of Versailles.
The Midway City Council passed a resolution Monday night to seek the change from fifth class to fourth class. Kentucky has six classes of cities; those in the first four classes have authority over alcohol regulations, such as Sunday sales. When Midway restaurants wanted to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays, the decision was up to the Woodford County Fiscal Court, which delayed action until Versailles decided the question for itself.
City officials cited "increasing population and tourism appeal" as reasons for the change, Stephen Burnett writes in this week's edition of The Woodford Sun (not available online). "City Attorney Phil Moloney, reading the resolution, said the city is also seeking to promote economic development and increase employment," Burnett writes. Moloney cited the hoped-for development of Midway Station and expansion of Midway College. “Midway’s current classification as a city of the fifth class does not provide suitable framework for its continued and future economic growth and development," Moloney said.
The college's residential students are included in Midway's population, which was 1,620 (including 138 students) when the last census was taken almost exactly 10 years ago. The 2010 census figures won't be available for about a year. The population in 2000 was much less than the 3,000 minimum that the state constitution required for a fourth-class city before the General Assembly and the voters relaxed the requirements in 1994. Now, there are no specific population limits and the constitution says the legislature can also consider tax base, geography "or any other reasonable basis" in assigning a classification. However, an earlier statute, still on the books, says a city must submit population data to the legislature before being reclassified.
In a signed statement, Mayor Tom Bozarth and City Clerk Phyllis Hudson said they believe the city's population was undercounted in 2000 because it didn't include "residents living for the majority of the year on campus at Midway College," and that development of Midway Station and adjoining areas, and a nursing home, will give the city "a population in excess of 3,000 residents, and that a strong public purpose exists for reclassification." State Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, said in an interview that he will try to get the classification changed during the current legislative session, which is scheduled to end March 29.
In other business, the council delayed action on bids for sale of the old sewer plant, because Bozarth and council members Diana Queen and Aaron Hamilton were absent.
The Midway City Council passed a resolution Monday night to seek the change from fifth class to fourth class. Kentucky has six classes of cities; those in the first four classes have authority over alcohol regulations, such as Sunday sales. When Midway restaurants wanted to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays, the decision was up to the Woodford County Fiscal Court, which delayed action until Versailles decided the question for itself.
City officials cited "increasing population and tourism appeal" as reasons for the change, Stephen Burnett writes in this week's edition of The Woodford Sun (not available online). "City Attorney Phil Moloney, reading the resolution, said the city is also seeking to promote economic development and increase employment," Burnett writes. Moloney cited the hoped-for development of Midway Station and expansion of Midway College. “Midway’s current classification as a city of the fifth class does not provide suitable framework for its continued and future economic growth and development," Moloney said.
The college's residential students are included in Midway's population, which was 1,620 (including 138 students) when the last census was taken almost exactly 10 years ago. The 2010 census figures won't be available for about a year. The population in 2000 was much less than the 3,000 minimum that the state constitution required for a fourth-class city before the General Assembly and the voters relaxed the requirements in 1994. Now, there are no specific population limits and the constitution says the legislature can also consider tax base, geography "or any other reasonable basis" in assigning a classification. However, an earlier statute, still on the books, says a city must submit population data to the legislature before being reclassified.
In a signed statement, Mayor Tom Bozarth and City Clerk Phyllis Hudson said they believe the city's population was undercounted in 2000 because it didn't include "residents living for the majority of the year on campus at Midway College," and that development of Midway Station and adjoining areas, and a nursing home, will give the city "a population in excess of 3,000 residents, and that a strong public purpose exists for reclassification." State Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, said in an interview that he will try to get the classification changed during the current legislative session, which is scheduled to end March 29.
In other business, the council delayed action on bids for sale of the old sewer plant, because Bozarth and council members Diana Queen and Aaron Hamilton were absent.
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