Petition and legislation seek liquor, wine by drink

Two efforts are under way to make it easier to get liquor and wine by the drink in Midway: a bill to relax the seating requirements for restaurants in state law, and a petition for an election to generally authorize sales by the drink.

House Bill 241, sponsored by state Rep. Carl Rollins, left, D-Midway, would reduce to 50 from 100 the number of seats a restaurant must have to get a drink license in a city of the fourth class, which Midway became last year. The measure would make drink licenses possible for some restaurants that do not qualify because they are not large enough. The bill was introduced Jan. 11 and has not been posted for hearing in the House Licensing and Occupations Committee. To read the bill, click here.

Midway restaurants licensed to sell liquor by the drink are the Grey Goose, the Holly Hill Inn and 815 Prime. Those are also licensed for Sunday drink sales, along with Heirloom and Darlin' Jeans Apple Cobbler Cafe.

On another front, a petition was filed Dec. 19 for a local-option election that would generally authorize sale of liquor and wine by the drink, without regard to the nature of the business or the number of seats, but with a limit on the number of licenses. County Attorney Alan George told the county Fiscal Court this week that the petition fails to include the word "sale," which could make it or a resulting election invalid.

The initial ruling on the petition is up to County Judge-Executive John Coyle, who would schedule the election for March 13 if he considers the petition valid, George said this afternoon. Local-option elections cannot be held in conjunction with any other election and must be scheduled within 90 days of the filing of the petition. The county would have to pay the cost of holding the election.

George said Steve Humphries, general counsel for the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, told him that Midway's population would qualify it for only one retail drink license, but the board would probably grant two licenses because it does not like to create local monopolies.

Council may appoint new member Friday morning

The Midway City Council may appoint a member to fill a vacancy at its special meeting at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the upstairs community room at City Hall, according to the official meeting notice sent to the five council members this afternoon.

When the council scheduled the session, during its last regular meeting, Mayor Tom Bozarth said it would be to discuss the vacancy. Today's notice that Bozarth had called the meeting says "Possible action will be taken" and includes on the agenda "Executive Session," citing the state law that allows a meeting to be closed for discussions "which might lead to the appointment, discipline, or dismissal" of a member. The law prohibits taking action in closed session.

Several Midway residents, including some candidates in the November council election, have applied for the vacancy created by the resignation of Becky Moore. The Midway Messenger has requested copies of the applications.

Council to consider snow deal, vultures, recycling, ordinances on parking and alcoholic beverages

The draft agenda for the next meeting of the Midway City Council, to be held Monday at 5:30 at City Hall, has been released. It includes approval of the memorandum of understanding with Woodford County for snow and ice treatment and removal, a discussion of what to do about vultures roosting in the city, second reading and final passage of ordinances on parking and alcoholic beverages, and discussion of recycling issues.

The agenda does not include appointment of a council member to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Becky Moore, which is to be the topic of a special meeting at 8:30 a.m. Friday, but agendas can be revised up to 24 hours before a meeting. All city council and committee meetings are open to the public, and citizens' comments are taken near the start of meetings.

UK equine program drops 'Initiative' from its name, reflecting maturity and growing role in industry

The University of Kentucky's program for the horse industry, a key part of the Midway area, is growing up. Formerly called the Equine Initiative, it is now UK Ag Equine Programs, reflecting its home in the College of Agriculture and its growing number of offerings.

The program was launched in 2005 when the college "set out to radically change how it served Kentucky’s signature equine industry and provide a suite of services appropriate for a land-grant university," a UK press release said. Since then, "We have indeed transformed the ‘initiative’ into established, world-class, service-oriented programs across the board," said Nancy Cox, the college's associate dean for research and administrative leader for program.

Norm Luba, executive director of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council and chair of the college’s equine advisory committee, said in the release that UK “has delivered on its promise of initiating a diverse portfolio of equine research, teaching and service programs. The UK Ag Equine program is now a permanent resource to the Kentucky horse industry, as well as poised to benefit an international horse industry that looks to Kentucky as the horse capital of the world.”

Program director Ed Squires said, “The name change reflects the broad nature and many areas of expertise, across many departments, of our equine programs at UK. We continue our commitment to be a world leader and premier resource for the equine industry.”

UK has long had equine-health and nutrition-research programs, and outreach programs targeted to horse owners, but until recently did not have a dedicated undergraduate degree in equine studies, or a focal point for the college's equine work. It now has a four-year degree in equine science and management with 39 graduates and 220 students; an internship program completed by 94 students; several new equine-focused faculty and staff doing new research; an online monthly newsletter; and new outreach programs, such as one to evaluate pastures. For more information, click here.

Council wants to tweak snow-removal deal; city looks for private contractors to do narrow streets

By Cody Porter, Morgan Rhodes, Alex Ruf and Kristen Vinson
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

Midway City Council members decided Monday night that a few changes were necessary before they would approve a memorandum of agreement with Woodford County for snow and ice treatment and removal. They also saw a map of streets that the county won't handle, and heard that other help is being recruited for those streets this year and perhaps the whole city for the next fiscal year.

“The memorandum will get us through this year,” said Mayor Tom Bozarth, “but next time we need to have a better understanding of our options.” On Jan. 11, shortly before a snowfall, Midway city officials learned that the county would no longer remove snow in Midway, leaving the city little time to assess alternative options. Officials made a temporary agreement for the city to reimburse the county for its costs of labor, equipment and materials. The memorandum would formalize the agreement.

The proposed agreement, prepared by County Attorney Alan George, refers to Midway's recent rise in status to a city of the fourth class, which County Judge-Executive John Coyle said was the reason for ending the free service. Several council members said they wanted those references removed.

“I don’t understand why we don’t just have a basic understanding,” said Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Turner. She also suggested, and her fellow council members agreed, that a clause should be added stating that the city or county could terminate the agreement on 30 days written notice. City Attorney Phil Moloney will take the requests to county officials.

The county cannot treat all the streets in Midway because many are too narrow, with limited turnaround or backup space. However, private contractors may be available for these roads, or for the entire city, if the council decides not to continue the agreement with the county.

City Attorney Phil Moloney, Mayor Tom Bozarth hold street map

Council Member Aaron Hamilton, chairman of the Streets Committee, said, “We will have to know which way we are going to go before the next budget,” which the council must adopt by July 1, the start of the 2012-13 fiscal year. Hamilton and Bozarth assured members that the issue is being worked on. Bozarth produced a map marking the roads the county would and would not be able to handle.

Although the council members were in general agreement about the memorandum, they questioned the cost of the service. “What is the county paying for salt? How much are they paying for labor costs?” said Arnold. “We need more information from the county so Midway can appropriately pay for snow removal in the budget. . . . If we're going to be paying for this, I would think that we would need to know by the fiscal year what the county was going to be paying for salt and what the employee rate per hour would be so that we could realistically compare the cost” with private contractors.

Later, Hamilton said that for a snow of one to three inches removed by the county, salt would cost $468.84 and removal would cost $225, at total of almost $700 for 1.14 lane miles of streets.

Other business

The council agreed to let Midway again be the fiscal agent for a grant being sought for a third time by Woodford County’s Drug Free Communities program. The most frequently used drugs in Woodford County are alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs, M.E. Kobes of the Bluegrass Prevention Center told the council.

Among the other guest speakers at the meeting was Midway resident Brad McLean, chairman of the Woodford County Economic Development Authority. After he mentioned possible business locations and expansions, and specified one in Versailles, Bozarth asked him what the EDA was doing for Midway. McLean said the EDA was looking into a building owned by the Gibson Corp. on Brand Street and with the help of real-estate agents would put the property on the EDA website.

Toward the end of the meeting, Bozarth said he hoped that in the next six months, the council could make the city's property-maintenance code stronger and improve the recycling program.

The council gave second reading and final passage to a revised alcohol licensing ordinance, and first reading to a related alcohol ordinance and a revised parking ordinance; second reading and final passage may occur at the next regular meeting, on Feb. 20.

The council scheduled a special meeting for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 17 to discuss candidates interested in occupying the council vacancy created by the resignation of Becky Moore. The deadline for applications is Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.

Chili day in January serves up good time for Midway

By Justin Wright
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

Phil Burchell took home the first prize in the chili cookoff that was held at Midway Christian Church Monday night. The cookoff was the theme of the monthly dinner, which the church holds for the community on the last Monday of each month.

Although the church holds the event, only eight to 10 of the 28 pots of chili came from members of the church, said the Rev. Heather McColl, the pastor.

The second-place winner was Ron Gruzesky. Jim Wombles came in third. The judges were Mayor Tom Bozarth, Versailles Asst. Police Chief Jimmy Fugate and Northside Elementary School Ryan Asher. About 175 people attended.

Highway Dept. finally discovers Elkhorn Creek

Despite its historic and environmental significance, South Elkhorn Creek has never been recognized with a sign on Interstate 64. The Midway Messenger inquired about that last year, and the state Department of Highways corrected the oversight last month, as part of a series of sign replacements along the interstate. A like sign greets westbound motorists heading into Woodford County, just east of the Midway interchange.