Mayor Stacy Thurman began this week’s council meeting by honoring the efforts of the community to build a path between Midway Cemetery and St. Rose Tabernacle Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery. Thurman listed several current and former Midwayians who were involved and spotlighted Jonelle Fisher for emphasizing the project and Blythe Jamieson who did a lot of the research on the cemetery and helped arrange for the work to be completed. The path goes between the two cemeteries, which now allows folks to visit St. Rose Tabernacle cemetery without having to climb a fence or walk on the road. Jamieson, now living in Lexington, attended the council meeting. “This was really a group effort with so many people involved to make it happen and no one wanted any credit!” she said. “It just needed to be done and was way overdue.” According to the second volume in the African-American series “The Story of Midway,” published by the Midway Museum in 2023 and referenced by Jamieson and Thurman, St. Rose Tabernacle Cemetary was established in the 1880s and is the final resting place for 170 African-Americans. The cemetery was created through the purchase of the property by The Knights of Tabor and Daughters of the Tabernacle, which was a self-help group for Black men and women in the post-Reconstruction period and organized similarly to Freemasonry. Thurman noted that the path between the two is a poignant example of “how Midway people come together to make something right happen.” In a letter to Thurman, Greg Bush said, “As simple as a gesture that this was, as simple as the gates (of the cemeteries) are, this is a symbol of Midway people coming together.” Highview Drive Todd Graddy requested that the city take over the maintenance of an area abutting her property on Highview Drive. At the request of Thurman, the Public Works Committee looked into the matter and requested Nelson Wright, head of public works, to investigate. Wright informed the council that he had met with the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Commission and determined that the area for which maintenance was requested is not owned or controlled by the city. Wright recommended that “the three property owners who border the area get together and either determine who owns it or that they work out a plan to handle the maintenance themselves.” Since it was a request and not an application for a permit, the council did not need to take any formal action. Encroachment permit The council approved an encroachment permit from Oliver Hidalgo to place a dumpster in a single parking spot on Main Street, directly in front of his building, for five days between Oct. 18 and Oct. 23, as ongoing construction is performed. Councilmember Patrick Hall pointed out that the building is now vacant and the owner is renovating it. Thurman noted that at the council’s request, Hidalgo had postponed the work and the need for a permit when he first made the request so that the work would not interfere with the Fall Festival. Councilmember Sara Hicks raised concerns that it would occupy a spot during a weekend when Keeneland is running which could adversely affect merchants. The permit was approved. Dog feces The council had an extended discussion about the continuing problem of dog walkers failing to pick up their dogs’ feces. It was noted that this was a particular problem on Main Street and in Bradley Park. Councilmember Mary Raglin said, “I’m sorry, but this really irritates me. I actually feel like our church (St. Matthew A.M.E.) is being targeted . . . I go to church an hour early just to pick (feces) up.” Hall reminded everyone that dog feces bag stations were set up around town. Hicks wondered if a map of the stations could be put on a sign, to which Thurman agreed and said it should be considered. Brush piles Thurman made a strong request, noting that the meeting was being streamed live, for people to not put objects or junk in brush piles that are to be shredded and picked up by the city. Thurman reported that someone had placed re-bar in a brush pile which caused the city’s chipper to be damaged to the extent that a new machine had to be purchased.