State rejects only bid for new Weisenberger Mill bridge, says it will re-advertise for bids to be made by July 26

The bridge is a scenic, historic spot due to the mill, built in 1913 on the site of an 1865 mill, and its dam on South Elkhorn Creek.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on Friday rejected the only bid for construction of a new Weisenberger Mill Bridge, which was almost three times the engineers' estimate but may have been made in error.

The cabinet will advertise the project for bids to be awarded after its July 26 bid letting, said Natasha Lacy, spokeswoman for the cabinet's District 7 office in Lexington. Construction is expected to take six to nine months.

Monday will mark the three years since the cabinet closed the bridge for safety reasons. The bidding was the latest in a series of delays for efforts to replace it with a new bridge.

The bid by Louisville Paving Co. was $1.95 million, 2¾ times the estimate of $709,889. Woodford County Magistrate Jackie Brown told the Midway Messenger Kelly Baker, the chief engineer at the cabinet's District 7 office in Lexington, told him Louisville Paving bid on foundation work they would not have to do, and expects a rebid would be much nearer to the engineers’ estimate.

The bridge across South Elkhorn Creek, the border of Woodford and Scott counties, is nominally Woodford's responsibility, under a longstanding agreement between the counties, but the state agreed to take responsibility for it several years ago.

The state closed the bridge after inspectors found it was not safe for a load of three tons. The state had already lowered the limit twice in an effort to turn away heavy trucks whose drivers used the bridge, apparently following Global Positioning System directions for a shortcut to or from Interstate 64, using Paynes Depot Road and perhaps Big Sink Road.

The bridge's closure has further isolated the largely African American community of Zion Hill, at the southern tip of Scott County. Woodford County has been providing emergency services to the area.

Replacing the one-lane span, built in the early 1930s, has been complicated. The first plan was for a two-lane bridge, but the cabinet changed it to one lane, with the pony-truss style of the old bridge, to assuage public concern that a modern concrete span would detract from the scenic nature of the site and encourage speeding, causing accidents in the sharp curve on the Woodford County side.

Since the bridge has historical significance and is a state responsibility, the project had to undergo review by the State Historic Preservation Office and the Kentucky Heritage Council, as well as an environmental impact report to federal officials. The project was delayed at least a month by negotiations over construction easements.

Message from the mayor: Infrastructure summer is here

By Grayson Vandegrift
Mayor, City of Midway
     Three large infrastructure projects are planned and funded for this year, with two about to begin. Within days, bidders will be selected to complete our 2019 sidewalk rehabilitation project, which includes 11 projects as part of our cost-sharing program; and a major street project that includes paving, storm sewer repair, and curb installation and rehabilitation.

     The streets project encompasses parts of East and West Stephens, Starks Alley, and North and South Winter. The end of North Winter, near Leestown Road, will be paved, as will bad stretches of East and West Stephens. Storm sewer work will be done on Stephens, and curb installation will occur on the east end near Brand Street, with curbs also being replaced on Winter near City Hall. 

     Later in the year, a sanitary-sewer project is planned that will camera and clean out all sewer lines east of Winter, but not including Northridge, where the lines are relatively new. The project will tell us exactly why inflow and infiltration occurs on Smith Street (experts disagree), as well as give us invaluable knowledge of the issues that part of the system faces. Furthermore, the cleaning out of the lines with high powered water will immediately make them better functioning. This project is integral for us to know what sewer project needs to begin next, and to get a better idea of its scope. 

     Most of these projects will be non-intrusive, but please note that the street project will at times divert traffic around parts of Stephens, Starks, and Winter. This project should take a few weeks to complete once it begins, and the sidewalk project should also be finished up by late July or early August if the current timeline holds. The sewer project will begin sometime later this summer or fall. 

    As always, if you have any questions please feel free to email mayorgrayson@meetmeinmidway.com or call me at 859-361-6320. This is what I call our “infrastructure summer.” 

Sole bid on new Weisenberger Mill Bridge may be too high for state to accept, state says 'there was no error'

The bridge is a scenic, historic spot due to the mill, built in 1913 on the site of an 1865 mill, and its dam on South Elkhorn Creek.

This story has been updated.

The only bid for construction of a new Weisenberger Mill Bridge was almost three times the engineers' estimate, raising the possibility that the bid will be rejected and the project further delayed. The bridge will have been been closed for three years as of next Monday.

The bid by Louisville Paving Co. was $1.95 million, 2¾ times the estimate of $709,889. The Awards Committee of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is scheduled to consider the bid and others from Friday's bid letting at 9:30 a.m. Friday. (The meeting is exempt from the state Open Meetings Act.)

Woodford County Judge-Executive James Kay told the Midway Messenger that his office had heard from Kelly Baker, the chief engineer at the cabinet's District 7 office in Lexington, "that the bid may have been a mistake." District 7 spokeswoman Natasha Lacy said in an email that Baker "has not talked with Judge Kay about this. In addition, there was no error." Kay said in an email, "Magistrate Jackie Brown spoke with Kelly Baker and relayed that info to me."

Brown told the Messenger Tuesday evening that Baker told him Louisville Paving bid on foundation work they would not have to do, and expects a rebid would be much nearer to the engineers’ estimate.

Told that, Lacy sent an email Wednesday saying, "The existing abutments are being left in place for the project. The design calls for placing a soil-nail wall around the abutments . . . to sufficiently protect and strengthen them. If the bid is rejected, we will discuss the possibility of separating out this part of the project. It then [could] be completed through maintenance agreements that we have in place. The remainder of work for the bridge would be placed back out for bid."

The bridge across South Elkhorn Creek, the border of Woodford and Scott counties, is nominally Woodford's responsibility, under a longstanding agreement between the counties, but the state agreed to take responsibility for it several years ago.

The state closed the bridge on July 1, 2016, after inspectors found it was not safe for a load of three tons. The state had already lowered the limit twice in an effort to turn away heavy trucks whose drivers used the bridge, apparently following Global Positioning System directions for a shortcut to or from Interstate 64, using Paynes Depot Road and perhaps Big Sink Road.

The state could ask the county to share in the unexpectedly high construction cost, but Kay said he doubted that the Fiscal Court would be willing to do that, even with a contribution from Scott County.

Magistrate Liles Taylor, who represents the Midway area on Fiscal Court, said he expects the state to keep its commitment to replace the bridge, and said the top concern must be public safety, but "Everything's on the table."

The bridge's closure has further isolated the largely African American community of Zion Hill, at the southern tip of Scott County. Woodford County has been providing emergency services to the area.

Replacing the one-lane span, built in the early 1930s, has been complicated. The first plan was for a two-lane bridge, but the cabinet changed it to one lane, with the pony-truss style of the old bridge, to assuage public concern that a modern concrete span would detract from the scenic nature of the site and encourage speeding, causing accidents in the sharp curve on the Woodford County side.

Since the bridge has historical significance and is a state responsibility, the project had to undergo review by the State Historic Preservation Office and the Kentucky Heritage Council, as well as an environmental impact report to federal officials. The project was delayed at least a month by negotiations over construction easements.

Civic leader Jean Sharon dies; service at noon Monday

Lillian "Jean" Sharon

Funeral services will be held at noon Monday at Midway Baptist Church for Jean Sharon, a longtime civic leader in Midway who died Thursday, June 20, at her home. She was 90.

Sharon served three terms on the City Council, where a daughter and grandson also served; was president of the Midway Women’s Club and Midway Parent-Teacher Organization, and was a member of the Woodford County Schools Hall of Fame. She was instrumental in building the veterans memorial at the Midway Cemetery and The Homeplace at Midway. 

She was the longest continually active member of the Midway Baptist Church, serving over 20 years as youth leader/director for various children's organizations; treasurer for many years; choir member; and various positions in the Women's Missionary Union. For more than two decades, she was The Woodford Sun's Midway correspondent.

She was born Lillian Clifton on Nov. 1, 1928 to Roy and Elizabeth Nave Clifton, and lived in Midway her entire life. She was the widow of Leslie Murphy Sharon, who died in 2016. She is survived by two daughters, Margaret “Peggy” Sharon and Cynthia Jean (Philip) Karrick; a son-in-law, David Warfield; six grandchildren, Wendy Warfield (Jonathan) Creech, Matthew Warfield (a former City Council member), Krissy Sharon (Scott) Fett, Mason (Heather) Karrick, Sharon Karrick and Spencer (Devon) Karrick; eight great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Helen Clifton and Elizabeth Clifton; and numerous other nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Leslie Elizabeth “Libby” Warfield, who died in 2018 while serving on the City Council; four sisters, Dora Faust, Martha Clifton, Frances Clifton and Elizabeth Clifton; six brothers, William, Charles, Oscar, Roy, James and Finnis Clifton, and her brother-in-law, Jesse Faust.

The Rev. Jeffery Sames will officiate at the service. Burial will be in Midway Cemetery. The pallbearers will be Austin Creech, Mason Karrick, Spencer Karrick, Scott Fett, Jonathan Clifton and Jonathan Creech. Honorary pallbearers are Matt Warfield, David Warfield, Philip Karrick, Dr. Norman Fisher, Dr. James Roach, James Johnson and Charles Logan. Johnson Funeral Home, where visitation was held Sunday afternoon, is in charge of arrangements. The full obituary is here.

City Council approves budget with $200K for sewers, $50K for curb extensions and many other additions

The City of Midway's budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is the probably the largest in the town's history, with General Fund appropriations of $1.9 million and a projected surplus of $488,601.

"It's likely the biggest ever," Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said as the City Council approved the budget on a 4-0 vote in an eight-minute special meeting Thursday. Members Sara Hicks and Kaye Nita Gallagher were absent, but they had attended all three workshops at which the council tweaked the budget Vandegrift had proposed.

The budget has been boosted mainly by increased occupational taxes on payrolls and net profits, mainly from the Midway Station industrial park. The council has lowered property taxes and water rates in the past year.

Holding up the budget, the mayor said, "This, as much as anything, is a policy document. What this shows is that our policy focuses on infrastructure."

The biggest infrastructure item is $200,000 for a project to examine and clean out the old sewer lines on the east side of town and see where repairs and replacements are needed. $50,000 is budgeted for curb extensions, or "bulb-outs" on Winter Street at the intersections of Bruen and Stephens streets, to help slow traffic and increase pedestrian safety.

The plan has $40,000 for interest payments on Midway Station, which are no longer made by the developer who gave up his option on the property, but the city and the Woodford County Economic Development Authority are hoping property sales will eliminate the need for interest payments.

The budget also adds $10,000 for new signs; $5,000 for new City Hall computers; $5,000 for the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, which has come to the county with the help of the Fiscal Court and the Versailles City Council; $2,000 for local churches' backpack meal program for needy children; and about $11,000 to join the Woodford County geographic information system, which Vandegrift said would help track infrastructure.

The budget includes $10,000 and $15,000, respectively, for repairs and maintenance on the firehouse, up from $5,000 and $10,000 in the current year; and $1,000 for the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce, up from $500. The Versailles Police Department will get $27,000 more as the city shares in the one-time cost of computer and telephone upgrades to the department, which patrols all of Woodford County. Under a contract, Midway pays 4.25 percent of the department's budget.

Mayor says he will ask council committee to plan for buying water from Frankfort, not Kentucky American

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift told the City Council this evening that Midway should run a water line to the Duckers area so it can buy wholesale water much more cheaply from the Frankfort Electric and Water Plant Board instead of Kentucky American Water Co.

Following are Vandegrift's remarks, as prepared for delivery, followed by additional comments and a report on other action at the council meeting.

Kentucky American Water Co.'s connection to the Midway water system

"As you know, I have been looking into our options as they pertain to our wholesale water supplier. In 1985 the city signed a 40-year contract with Kentucky American Water, meaning that this contract will expire in 2025.

"It is the opinion of our city attorney and his associates that the contract is, at least for now, a valid one. The Kentucky Supreme Court has a case before them which argues that such a contract shouldn’t be valid because Kentucky American should be considered a franchise, not a utility. That case is unlikely to be overturned, and even if it were, the planning for an endeavor such as switching water providers would be a process that could take that long time regardless.

"I have been in discussions with executives at the Frankfort Plant Board, including their chief engineer, and they have assured me that they are ready, willing, and able to sell us water at a wholesale rate. Their current rate for wholesale customers is $2.55 per 1,000 gallons. We currently pay Kentucky American $4.21 per 1,000 gallons. That means we could get water for 40 percent less than what we’re paying now, and we could conceivably cut water rates for our citizens and still flood our water fund with new revenue for infrastructure improvements. And this is before the Public Service Commission rules on the current rate increase Kentucky American has asked for. Who’s to say how many more increases they’ll have received by 2025?

"We owe it to our citizens to find a source of clean, potable water at a reasonable price, and this seems like a no-brainer. We will be responsible for running a water line to the Duckers area, less than two miles from Midway, to hook in with the Frankfort Plant Board’s 20-inch supply line.

"This is a large initiative but one that will have an immediate and long lasting impact on our city and its residents for many years after we’re gone. It is my firm resolve that we begin now the process of switching water suppliers so that come 2025 we’re ready to flip the switch and begin drawing our water from a local, municipal-minded utility as opposed to a publicly traded profit making entity. It has become abundantly clear that Kentucky American’s business model is going to continue to be based on frequent rate increases. To me, that is unacceptable, and we shouldn’t let ourselves be held for ransom every time they decide they’re not making their executives and shareholders enough money at the expense of the rest of us.

"Therefore, I’m asking that the Public Works and Services Committee, consisting of Council Members John Holloway, Kaye Nita Gallagher, and Bruce Southworth as chair, to begin the process of laying out a plan with logistics and probable costs so that on that day in 2025, we’re ready to sell good water at a greatly reduced price. I will be heavily involved with the committee’s work, but will also respect their autonomy as a committee of our legislative body. The committee should consult with the Frankfort Plant Board as well as our engineers and/or consultants we may hire to achieve our goals.

"When we lowered our sewer rates by 25 percent I told you that in my opinion, that was just the start. Significantly lower water bills in Midway, once thought by many to be a fairy tale is now underway, with this even bigger step firmly within our grasp. We have the money and the flexibility to finance this project in a cost-effective way, and one could argue the savings alone would finance the project to come within several years. I hope that the city council will enthusiastically join me in beginning this plan, while keeping all options on the table as we go, so that we can finally realize that long sought after dream, and conclusively turn a fairy tale into a reality."

Vandegrift added that he would "keep all options on the table," because construction of the supply line would require research and purchase of easements, and he said he does not believe eminent domain, or condemnation, should be used for the project.

"It would be a complete sea change in the way Midway utility bills work," Vandegrift said. He said he would welcome a counter-offer from Kentucky American, but "They don't care about Midway."

Budget nears approval: The council heard first reading of the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, which it had agreed on at three budget workshops (details here and here). It plans to hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday for second reading and passage.

Vandegrift thanked Assistant City Clerk Sonya Conner and former assistant clerk Diane Shepard for their work on the budget, which included "figuring out from scratch how to get into ordinance form," following the retirement of Phyllis Hudson as city clerk-treasurer.

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

Sidewalk bids in: Vandegrift said the city had received two bids for sidewalk repairs, about $39,000 and $42,000, which he would present to the council at its July 1 meeting. He said he would ask the council to increase the city's maximum contribution to each job to $1,500 or $2,000, from the current $1,000. The city splits the costs with property owners, but its contribution is capped.

"When we set that one thousand, we didn't quite know what the scope of it was," he said. Even with a higher cap, he said, "It'll be more fair, but they'll still pay their share."

Events: The council approved event permits for the 45th annual Midway Fall Festival, to be held Sept. 21-22, and the Bourbon Country Burn bicycle tour, which is expected to bring 1,000 riders to town on Friday, Sept. 27, when riders will follow various courses from the Lexington base camp to distilleries in the Frankfort area.

Fall Festival coordinator Elisha Holt said the festival needs to hire off-duty police officers to direct traffic. Vandegrift said he would discuss that with the Versailles Police Department, which covers all of Woodford County. Holt said the festival's new partnership with the Iron Horse Half Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 22, will bring more portable toilets to the festival, a total of 28.

She said organizers of the foot race want to start music at 8 a.m., but Vandegrift said, "I wouldn't push it" because there are already some misgivings about combining the two events. All present went along with a suggestion by Council Member Sara Hicks that the music be acoustic, not amplified.

Mayor picks former Sadieville city-clerk treasurer for that position in Midway; will ask council to confirm by July 1

Cynthia Foster

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift has chosen Cynthia Foster of Versailles to be Midway's new city clerk-treasurer, he told the City Council and news media in an email this evening. The appointment is subject to council approval; the mayor said he would ask the council to confirm the appointment before July 1, when Foster is scheduled to start work.

"Cynthia is a uniquely qualified candidate with more than eight years experience as the city clerk-treasurer for the City of Sadieville, a performance for which she received glowing reviews from her supervisor," then-Mayor Claude Christensen, Vandegrift said. "I am confident you will be pleased with the experience, demeanor, and professionalism that Cynthia brings to the office."

Foster, 60, has more than has 35 years of administrative and financial experience in non-profits, management and government, including the Army, Vandegrift said. "She also has extensive experience with grant writing, having previously assisted Bluegrass Council of the Blind and Bluegrass Tomorrow in their endeavors. While grant writing is not a requirement, nor part of the job description for city clerk/treasurer, Cynthia is enthusiastic about helping to write grants in addition to her official duties."

Phyllis Hudson retired as clerk-treasurer May 31 after a more than 10 years in the job and 21 with the city. Assistant Clerk Sonya Conner has been handling council meetings for several months.