Council expected to discuss business study for city

The published agenda for Monday evening's City Council meeting is scant, but the 5:30 session is expected to include a discussion with representatives of Midway Renaissance about the grant it recently received for a market study to develop a strategy for the development of downtown business in Midway.

Renaissance wants the council committee formed to work with the group (council members Sharon Turner, Charlann Wombles and Doris Leigh) to meet soon to establish a broader committee to develop the formal Request For Proposals from consultants, "create a review and selection process, develop recommendations regarding financial issues related to the grant administration, and set up a schedule for proceeding with the project," Renaissance Main Street Manager Marcie Christensen said in an e-mail. She added that Mayor Tom Bozarth has asked Renaissance President Randy Thomas to attend the meeting.

City gets $15,000 from state for study to create strategy for downtown business development

The state has given the City of Midway $15,000 for a market study to create a strategy for downtown business development. Midway Renaissance, whose contractor doubles as director of the city's Main Street program, said in a press release today that it "will work with representatives of the city and the Midway Business Association to hire a consultant and engage the whole community in the project."

The release said market studies are "used by businesses, developers, governments, and citizens for making better-informed decisions. The process includes documenting details about the downtown's current condition, exploring changes occurring in the marketplace, verifying what consumers want from downtown, discovering what businesses the downtown market will support, and creating a downtown business development strategy.  . . . Once a detailed picture of the downtown economy emerges, Midway Renaissance will work with all stakeholders to shape a business retention campaign that includes providing assistance and training to existing businesses, and participate in a recruitment campaign to compliment existing businesses. Recruitment will target businesses that people want and that the market will support."

Renaissance said the study will include public meetings: "Input and participation from the broader community is important so that recommendations resulting from the study reflect both market conditions as well as the preferences of the community. Local input provides fresh ideas and community ownership of the project. This buy-in is especially important after the analysis is done and its time to implement the study's recommendations."

The grant comes from from the Department for Local Government. Renaissance President Randy Thomas said in the release, “Our proposal was a joint effort and I believe that the market study will provide all of us with very valuable information as we work together to make Midway an even better place to live, work and prosper.” For more information contact Main Street Manager Marcie Christensen at 846-4049 or Thomas at 312-9891. News and updates on the project will be posted at http://www.midwayrenaissance.org/.

Sparks in the Park! Gather at firehouse 4:30 for parade at 5 to Bradley Park; event to start at 6

The annual Sparks in the Park celebration for Independence Day starts with the parade at 5 p.m. today. All are welcome to march in the parade; gather at the Firehouse beginning at 4:30. The parade will go from the Firehouse to Gratz, right on Higgins, cross Winter Street to Turner, take a right to Bruen, take a right at the stop light, turn left on Winter to Main and turn right to Gratz, then left to Dudley and right to the Walter Bradley Park, arriving around 6 p.m.

After music by City Coulcilman Aaron Hamilton, the National Guard will present the colors and "The Star-Spangled Banner" will be sung. Dr. Jim Roach will give a patriotic reading, Pastor Mary Seeger Weese will give the invocation, and the Hilltop Rockers will perform from 6:30 to 7. The Midway Musicians (Billy and Lauren Hill, Margaret Lyle, Blake Jones, and Bill and Leslie Penn) will perform for half an hour, then the Rockers will return.

Councilwoman Diana McQueen says barbecue "will be available while it lasts... and music until about dark! Children's games will be going on throughout the evening. I hope you will consider walking in the parade . . . Please join me tonight in thanking Christian Care Communities for their generous $1,500 sponsorship of the barbecue. We are so fortunate to have this support! My sincere thanks to Tom, the council, and all the city employees who really contributed to making our celebration possible! It's going to be a special and wonderful evening!"

City Council to hold special meeting 8 a.m. Wed.

Mayor Tom Bozarth has called a special meeting of the Midway City Council for 8 a.m., Wednesday, June 30, at City Hall to consider insurance proposals, second reading of an ordinance amending the budget for the fiscal year (which ends that day), and a "walking tour contract," an item that was added to the agenda after the first notice went out. All council meetings are open to the public.

Nationally touted Francisco's Farm Arts Festival returns to Midway College campus this weekend

Midway will play host to the seventh annual Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival at Midway College, produced by Midway Renaissance, June 26 and 27.

The festival has been named among the “Top Ten Art Fairs in the U.S.” for the third year in a row by AmericanStyle magazine. This year's edition has several new features; for a full story, click here.

Council committees to meet Tuesday, Wednesday

The Streets and Lights Committee of the Midway City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 15 in the upstairs Community Room of City Hall to discuss sidewalk improvements and additional parking downtown. The Finance and City Property Committee will meet at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 16 in City Hall to discuss insurance quotes. No action will be taken at either meeting, according to notices from City Clerk Phyllis Hudson.

Council approves budget for 2010-11; city won't appeal attorney general's open-records decision

The Midway City Council adopted the city budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 at its regular meeting Monday night. For a copy of the budget, as an Excel spreadsheet file, click here. For a PDF version, click here.

Mayor Tom Bozarth declined to release a copy of his proposed budget while the council was considering it. In a case prompted by the Midway Messenger, Attorney General Jack Conway ruled that a proposed city budget becomes public once the mayor presents it to the council. However, Conway's ruling does not become final until June 19, 30 days after it was issued.

UPDATE, June 10: Bozarth says the city will not appeal the attorney general's decision to Woodford Circuit Court.